The desert poplar forest in Ejine Banner, Alshaa League. This is one of three remaining Populus euphratica forest reserves in the world. [Photo/WeChat account of Ejine Convergence Media]

Ejine Banner in Alshaa League – located in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region – made substantive progress in its social and economic development in 2022, according to a range of major indicators. 

Last year, the banner's regional GDP reached 3.81 billion yuan ($555 million), a year-on-year increase of 1.3 percent. The fixed-asset investment came in at 1.86 billion yuan, up 8 percent and the general public budget revenue was 214 million yuan, a gain of 6.6 percent. 

The per capita disposable incomes of its permanent residents in urban and rural pastoral areas were 50,526 yuan and 31,043 yuan – gains of 5 percent and 6 percent year-on-year, respectively. 

In 2022, the banner focused on conservation and its ecosystem and environment materially improved. Throughout the year, its grassland ecological supplementary awards policy and its forest ecological benefit compensation system were fully implemented – and 130 million yuan in supplementary awards funds were issued. 

A total of 2.93 million mu (195,533 hectares) of ecological protection and restoration in key areas was implemented. In addition, some 20,000 mu of key areas were afforested and 16,000 mu of forest vegetation was restored. 

Ejine vigorously promoted its "river and lake chief system". It invested 31.97 million yuan to complete the emergency restoration project of water ecology in the Juyanhai wetland. 

In addition, Ejine has actively supported the resumption of work and production. Enterprises and industrial enterprises above a designated size – those with annual revenue of 20 million yuan or more – are expected to complete a total industrial output value of 1.03 billion yuan.