Xizang’s Quest to Green the \”Roof of the World\”
In a monumental effort to enhance ecological conservation on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, also known as the \”Roof of the World,\” China’s Xizang Autonomous Region has embarked on its largest-ever afforestation project. Launched in 2021, the initiative aims to blanket the mountainsides along the Lhasa River Valley with lush greenery by 2030.
The project focuses on the northern and southern mountains surrounding Lhasa, covering an extensive area of approximately 137,868 hectares. Upon completion, it is expected to add 49.8 million metric tonnes of water storage capacity, sequester 230,000 metric tonnes of carbon annually, and generate 190,000 metric tonnes of oxygen each year. These environmental benefits will significantly improve the livability of Lhasa, the regional capital.
Embracing Technology to Overcome Challenges
One of the key players in this ambitious project is the company led by Xian Xiongqiang, which has been responsible for a quarter of the work since 2021. The team faced considerable challenges due to the high-altitude terrain, with afforestation sites located between 3,600 and 4,100 meters above sea level.
\”When we began planting trees on a large scale on the northern and southern mountains, there were no roads there,\” Xian explained. \”The roads were built step by step by our workers and mules and horses. Drones boost work efficiency by about five to ten times compared to animals. It basically takes less than one minute for the drone to reach an altitude of nearly 4,100 meters.\”
The utilization of drones for lifting and transporting trees has revolutionized the team’s operations, enabling them to navigate the rugged landscape efficiently.
Innovative Solutions Amidst Drought
The project also faced the challenge of severe drought conditions in 2022. \”2022 was the most challenging year. We encountered extremely dry weather. When we saw the trees turning yellow, we were very anxious. We climbed the mountain to check their conditions every day,\” Xian recounted.
In response, the team installed an intelligent water system on the mountains, ensuring that water could reach all areas of the afforestation sites. \”It mainly directs water from sources such as main canals and rivers to the highest reservoir on top of the mountains, and then distributes the water from the reservoir to other storage tanks. So water storage work can be carried out non-stop every day,\” Xian said.
Positive Environmental Impact
By the end of last year, trees had been planted across an area of around 25,333 hectares. The continuous improvement of the ecological environment has led to Xizang’s forest coverage rate increasing to 12.31 percent, creating favorable conditions for the recovery of rare wildlife populations.
The number of Tibetan antelopes has risen to nearly 300,000 from a low of less than 70,000 in the last century. Similarly, the population of black-necked cranes has grown to over 10,000 from fewer than 2,000 in the same period.
This afforestation project exemplifies how technological innovation and ecological commitment can converge to address environmental challenges, offering a model for sustainable development on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and beyond.
Reference(s):
Technology enhances Xizang's largest-ever afforestation project
cgtn.com
