A conference supporting international exchange and cooperation in desertification control was opened by China's State Forestry Administration and the secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Sept 7.

As a side-meeting of the ongoing 13th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD, the focus was on China’s innovation in combating desertification.

China has made significant achievements in fighting soil loss by scientific and technological means, according to Zhang Hongwen, chief economist of China's State Forestry Administration.

He attributed China’s success in fighting soil loss to the efforts made in conducting fundamental research, improving technical standards, accelerating popularization of demonstration projects, and promoting international cooperation.

Based on a group of scientific expeditions in stony deserts and sandy areas, China has developed a technological system for desertification monitoring, as well as technologies for quicksand stabilization & revegetation. It has also created shelter forests for oasis and transport infrastructure.

China has formulated national standards like the Technical Regulations for Sandification Prevention and Control and the Technical Code of Practice on Sandified Land Monitoring, as well as regional regulations on desertification control.

A group of innovations for desertification control such as low coverage and sand barriers were widely used to improve barren sandy land. Several Chinese enterprises, among them Elion Resources Group and Rechsand Science and Technology Group,  are actively sharing their experience in fighting desertification.

China has carried out cooperation projects with international organizations like the UNCCD secretariat and the United Nations Environment Programme, provided training programs for countries in Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East, and exchanged the latest technologies and practices in fighting desertification with countries all over the world.

It also plans to launch more training programs and a think-tank consisting of leading international experts to help countries and regions suffering from severe desertification.

Pradeep Monga, deputy executive secretary of the UNCCD secretariat, made a speech at the conference, addressing officials, experts and scholars from research institutes and educational institutions.

The conference not only demonstrates China’s achievements but also its technical strengths in desertification prevention and control. It will further recognition of China as a global leader in the matter and contribute to the world’s sustainable development.