China News Service, Xilin Gol, September 2nd, 2024 – In the vast expanse of the Gobi Desert, where sand dunes once rolled uncontrolled, a retired soldier has created a Green Great Wall through sheer determination and unwavering commitment. Marbles Ma, a former soldier turned environmental warrior, has spent the last 24 years transforming a barren stretch of sand into a thriving green oasis.
Background
Marbles Ma, a resident of Xinmin Village in Duolun County, Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, has always felt a deep connection with trees. I can’t really say why, but I always feel a special bond with trees. They have not only changed the face of the sandstorm but also toughened my spirit, Ma reflects.
Duolun County, located on the southern edge of the Hunshandak Sandland, has been severely affected by desertification. In the 1970s and 1980s, the county experienced intense wind erosion and desertification, with 87% of its land area affected. Ma’s home was situated right in the heart of the I号 sand belt, where the landscape was dominated by shifting sand dunes.
The Battle Begins
The turning point came in 2000 when Duolun County launched the Beijing-Tianjin Sandstorm Source Control Project, marking the beginning of a fierce battle against desertification. Ma, inspired by the call to action, took a bold step. I sold my family’s six cows and, without telling my wife, signed a contract to lease 3,700 mu of barren and sandy land, he recalls. His decision was met with skepticism by his fellow villagers, who questioned his sanity.
Challenges and Triumphs
The journey was fraught with challenges. Ma, with no prior experience in desertification control, found the task of stabilizing the shifting sand dunes daunting. The first sand dune took me nearly a year to stabilize, he remembers. His wife, moved by his dedication, silently joined him in his endeavors.
Ma and his wife worked tirelessly, planting grass and trees in a relentless battle against the sand. We initially planted willows one by one, only to have them washed away by the wind. We sought advice from the forestry department, who suggested we create grids to plant grass. We used branches, cow dung, and stones to stabilize the sand dunes before planting grass. When the sandstorms came, we simply planted again, Ma explains.
The Green Transformation
Years of hard work began to pay off as Ma transformed 14 shifting sand dunes into stable ones. The once barren sandland started to show signs of life. We had never seen樟子松 (Chinese pine) in Duolun County before. We had to figure out how to plant them step by step, Ma says. To ensure the trees survived, he would fetch water from two kilometers away and manually carry it to the dunes to water each sapling.
The result is nothing short of miraculous. The once desolate landscape is now a verdant green, with trees standing tall where once only sand existed. Ma’s efforts have not only halted the advance of the desert but have also created a natural barrier against sandstorms, effectively creating a Green Great Wall.
National Recognition
Ma’s dedication has not gone unnoticed. In June 2023, China announced the launch of three major campaigns under the Three-North Shelterbelt Project, one of which is the elimination of the Hunshandak Sandland. Ma’s work is a testament to the success of these efforts and has inspired others to take up the cause of environmental protection.
Conclusion
Marbles Ma’s journey from a退伍军人 (retired soldier) to an environmental hero is a powerful reminder of the impact one person can have on the environment. Through sheer determination and unwavering commitment, he has turned a barren stretch of sand into a thriving green oasis, creating a Green Great Wall that stands as a testament to the power of human perseverance and environmental stewardship.
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