480 Million Trees | 四百八十万棵树
Air pollution has been a big environmental issue in Beijing and other cities in the northern region in China. In addition to smog and dust, sandstorms that sweep across the northern region of China every spring from March to May are also one of the main contributors to the bad air quality. The dust and sandstorms mainly come from Hunshandake Desert of Inner Mongolia and its neighbouring country, Mongolia.
Dust and sandstorms pose a huge negative impact on the environment, the economy, and health. When dust and sandstorms strike, low visibility causes flights to be cancelled, fire department officials have to be mobilised to patrol on highways to prevent car accidents due to strong winds which very often increase the cases of fire accidents. At its worse, the PM10 level in Beijing reaches above 2,000 micrograms per cubic meter, which is 40 times the maximum 24-hour mean recommended by the World Health Organisation. PM10 is the tiny inhalable particle linked to respiratory disease. People with health problems, especially related to the respiratory system, are advised to stay at home to avoid further aggravating their health conditions.
Hunshandake Sandland
Click to enlarge
Hunshandake Sandland is the closest sand land to Beijing, it is 180 km (111.8 mi) away from the north of Beijing, located at the south of the Xilin Gol Bund of the Autonomous Region of Inner Mongolia. It is one of the four largest sand lands in Inner Mongolia, covering an area of 53,000 square km (570,000 square ft). As a result of overgrazing from the 1960s to 2000, the sand dunes in Hunshandake have increased from 2% to 33%. It has become one of the main sand sources to the dust and sandstorms in Beijing.
The Solution to Dust and Sandstorms
When forests or trees deplete due to recurrent wars, fires, land reclamation, and indiscriminate logging, the result is desertification. Strong winds carry dust and sand as they move, creating sandstorms. The total desert area in China is 170,000 square km (1,830,000 square ft), of which 50,000 square km (538,000 square feet) was desertified from 1900-2000. In order to combat this, forest or tree planting is the only solution as the trees serve as a barrier, stopping the dust and sandstorms going further. Afforestation will directly solve the problems of desertification.
Saihanba National Forest Park
Saihanba National Forest Park (click to enlarge)
Next to Hunshandake Sandland is the Saihanba National Forest Park. Located in the north of Beijing in the province of Hebei, Saihanba National Forest Park covers 185,000 acres of forest and it is the world’s biggest man-made forest with 480 million trees planted in the time span of 57 years.
Weather at Saihanba in the summer is always cool and pleasant, this was the reason it was once a royal retreat during the Qing Dynasty. Unfortunately, forest fires, deforestation, and wars have turned Saihanba into a barren desert by the end of the Qing Dynasty.
In the year 1962, a group of 350 people were sent to this area to combat the desertification issue. Their main mission was to create a man-made forest as a solution to desertification and also to make the forest a barrier to the dust and sand blown from Hunshandake Sandland into Beijing. 57 years later, the forest coverage in this area has increased from 12% to 80%.
When this pioneer group of people were sent to the barren desert of Saihanba, nobody was sure if it was possible to grow trees in this area, but a 200-hundred-year-old larch tree standing alone in the desert gave them hope to embark on this ‘impossible project’. Today Saihanba is also known as the Green Lung of North China. Many of the pioneer tree planters have retired, but their children continue with the mission to green up the area by planting more variety of trees.
In 2000, Saihanba was made into Saihanba National Forest Park. In 2017, Saihanba National Park was awarded the Champions of the Earth in the Inspiration and Action category due to the efforts put in to transform barren deserts into a green paradise. This award is the highest environment honour given by the United Nations Environment Programme.
Not only has the National Park helped to cut down the frequency of dust and sandstorms in Beijing, it has also brought other benefits. The entrance fee to the park has generated an income of 44 million Yuan in 2016. The forest absorbs 747,000 tons of carbon dioxide a year, which can produce a total transaction volume of more than 30 million yuan according to current prices on the Beijing carbon emissions trading market. The oxygen produced by the forest is enough for 1.99 million people to consume for a year.
Conclusion
Due to rapid development and progress, environmental issues such as air pollution have become a big challenge in China. Contrary to what the world has been saying about China, we do see that China has already invested in and embarked on environmental protection initiatives since the 1960s, before it opened its door to the world. If Saihanba is a miracle, this will not be the only one. Environmental protection is also one of the focuses in the Belt and Road initiatives as proposed by President Xi. Clearly, China has not disregarded the importance of environmental protection in the course of its development and growth.
Two Generations Spent 55 Years Building World’s Largest Man-Made Forest in Saihanba, North China
Disclaimer: The video below belongs to its creator, and is made available here for strictly educational, non-commercial purposes only. No profit is being made from making it available.
Transcript
It’s been hot in Beijing lately, but fortunately where I am going today is beautiful and cool. I’ve heard that Hebei Province is home to the largest planted forest in the world. Let’s have a look. As we get closer, I can feel the temperature change. Here it’s not just cool, it’s actually a little cold. And though I am visiting in July, it feels more like October! It maybe a bit chilly, but the scenery is stunning. Just look at the size of this forest! Believe it or not, 55 years ago, all of this was barren desert. Hunshandake, north of Saihanba is the source of many sandstorms that can plague Beijing, Tianjin and all of northern China at certain times of year. That’s why scientists, in a bid to put an end to the clouds of sand, decided to plant a forest here more than half a century ago. This is known as the tree of honour and it’s stood here for hundreds of years and it served as inspiration for those scientists back when all around was desert and the forests were just a dream.
The snow season in Saihanba lasts for about seven months each year. The earliest recorded snowfall has been in August and the latest in June. In 1962 when the first generation of tree planters came here, they faced all kinds of hardships like these, as they tried to green the barren highlands and turn them into an oasis. Their efforts were not in vain, however, because now the forest which is home to 480 million trees, covers 933 square km (579.7 square mi). That’s almost the same size as Hong Kong. Today, many of the children of that first generation of tree-planters are carrying on their parents’ work. They have brought in new species of trees and care for those planted by their predecessor. Yu Cheng is a forest guardian. His father was among the first generation to work here.
Many would find Yu’s job intolerable, with the trees and mountains being his only companion much of the year. But for him, looking after the forest planted by his father is an act of faith. It gives him hope, and reminds him of those who came before him. Today, with environmental protection and resource conservation as key government policies, Saihanba has become a model for China’s green development. President Xi Jinping has called for more efforts to push green development and green lifestyles. And China is integrating environmental protection in the Belt and Road Initiative in line with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China is now taking the initiative and become an advocative, environmental protection and sustainable development worldwide.
Modern day Saihanba is often called “the Green Lung of North China”. It serves a practical purpose – keeping down sand and conserving water, as well as, being a tourist attraction. I feel fortunate to have had the chance to see such a special place and hear some of the stories associated with its development. Good luck China!
More pictures of Saihanba National Forest Park
四百八十万棵树
中国北京和东北一带的城市目前最严峻的一个问题是空气污染。空气污染的主因有二：烟雾为一；每年三月至五月吹袭北京的沙尘暴为二。沙尘暴主要源自内蒙古的浑善达克沙地和邻近的蒙古国。
沙尘暴严重影响了国民的居住环境、健康和经济素质。由于沙尘暴降低了能见度，许多航班被迫取消；工作人员必须前往高速公路巡逻以预防意外的发生；强烈的风速也增加了火灾的发生率。北京在沙尘暴最为严重的时候，PM10的浓度指数高达二千微克/立方米，是世界卫生组织建议安全水平的40倍。PM10乃空气中的悬浮微粒，它会引起与呼吸系统相关的疾病。当沙尘暴来袭时，有关当局都会呼吁患有呼吸系统疾病的大众留在室内，避免外出。
浑善达克沙地
北京沙尘暴的主要沙源为距北京以北180公里的浑善达克沙地。浑善达克沙地位于内蒙古的锡林郭勒草原南端，是内蒙古四大沙地之一，总面积达5万3千平方公里。在1960年至2000年间，由于过度放牧，浑善达克的沙丘占地面积从2巴仙大增至33巴仙，遂成为北京沙尘暴的主要源头。
解决沙尘暴的方法
中国目前的沙漠面积为17万平方公里，其中5万平方公里是在1900年至2000年间因沙化而形成的。一些地区如河北省的塞罕坝在清末由于持续的战乱、火灾、填土工程、过度砍伐树木等，沙化日益严重。强烈的风速卷起了沙尘，造成沙尘暴，横扫所经之处。植树是解决沙化问题唯一及最直接的方法。树林可以避免沙化现象，也有防沙尘作用。
塞罕坝国家森林公园
塞罕坝国家森林公园就在浑善达克沙地的旁边。它位于北京以北的河北省，占地18万5千亩，拥有世界最大的人工林场，在过去的57年共植了480万棵树。
由于塞罕坝的夏天气候异常清凉，遂成为清朝时期皇室的避暑胜地。清末因为持续的战乱、火灾、填土工程、过度砍伐树木以及浑善达克沙地吹来的强风和沙尘等，加速了塞罕坝的沙化现象，塞罕坝因而成了寸草不生的沙地。
在57年前的1962年，一组共350人的团队被派往塞罕坝阻止浑善达克沙地南袭。他们主要的任务是植树，透过制造人工林场来解决塞罕坝沙化现象，同时作为抵御从浑善达克沙地的沙尘往南吹袭的防风屏。57年后的今天，这群植树先锋把塞罕坝的树林覆盖面积由12巴仙大增至80巴仙。
当这组植树先锋抵达塞罕坝这片寸草不生的沙地时，他们也曾经质疑植树的可能性。但当他们看到一棵屹立在沙地之中的两百岁松树时，他们内心的希望油然而生，看似不可能的任务由此展开。今天的塞罕坝被誉为中国华北地区的绿肺。如今，大部分植树先锋已经退休，一些植树者的子女继承了长辈的事业，成为第二代植树人。
塞罕坝在2000年成为塞罕坝森林国家公园。2017年，塞罕坝国家森林公园获得联合国环境计划颁发最高荣誉的「地球冠军奖」，表扬塞罕坝把寸草不生的沙地变成绿油油树林的伟迹。
除了成功减少从浑善达克沙地袭往北京的沙尘暴，塞罕坝国家森林公园也为国民带来了不少实质利益。在2016年，塞罕坝国家森林公园的门票收入为4400万人民币；树林亦每年固碳74.7万吨，释放氧气54.5万吨，足够供给199万人一年所需的氧气。
结论
由于国家发展迅速，空气污染成为中国其中一个最大的环境问题。其实中国非常重视环境污染问题，以塞罕坝为例，早于1962年、中国还没改革开放时，政府已经在保护环境方面注入不少投资。如果塞罕坝是个扭转生态的奇迹，它不会是唯一或最后一个奇迹。习近平主席在「一带一路」计划里也非常强调环境保护。中国在迅速发展经济的同时，也并未轻忽环境保护的重要性。
55年、2代植树人在中国东北区的塞罕坝植出世界最大人工林场
文字稿
最近北京很热，但幸运的是今天我将去一个非常美而且十分凉爽的地方。听说在河北有一片森林是世界上面积最大的人工林。我这就去瞧瞧。随着我离目的地越来越近，气温也越来越低，这里已经不止是凉爽，而是有些冷了。虽然现在是7月份，但感觉上更像是10月份。这里也许有点冷，但风景很美。（这么大面积的森林竟然是人工种植的。）看这森林有多大呀！难以置信的是，在55年前，这里还是寸草不生的荒漠。塞罕坝北面紧邻着浑善达克沙地，是沙尘暴的风口之一。沙尘暴威胁着中国的两座重要城市，北京和天津以及整个华北地区。为了改善华北地区居民的生活环境，55年前的中国的技术人员，决定在这里创造出一片森林。这棵树被称为功勋树，在荒漠中独自耸立了几百年。正是它激励启发了中国的技术人员，这座林场传奇也从它开始。
塞罕坝年均积雪时间长达7个月。最早降雪记录是8月，最晚降雪记录是6月。从1962年起，第一代林场工人们克服千辛万苦，在荒凉的高原上栽下树苗，把荒原变成了绿洲。林场共有4.8亿余株树，总面积933平方公里，几乎相当于中国香港的面积。从第一代林场工人起，他们的孩子大多也继承了前辈的事业，引进新树种，看护好前辈们亲手创造的绿色奇迹。于成是林场瞭望员，他的父亲是第一代林场人。于成的工作常人很难忍受，常年只有山林与他为伴。但看护好父亲亲手种下的这片林子便是他强大的精神信念。对于他，林场所寄托的既有他对青山绿水的期待，也有对父亲的深切亲情。
现在，节约资源和保护环境是中国的基本国策，塞罕坝成为了中国人致力于生态文明建设的缩影。中国国家主席习近平提出，推动形成绿色发展方式和生活方式是贯彻新发展理念的必然要求。中国还将推进生态文明建设，融入一带一路建设。这是中国落实联合国2030年可持续发展议程的重要举措。中国用自身行动成为全球环境保护与可持续发展事业的积极参与者和推动者。
今天的塞罕坝被誉为华北绿肺，而它不仅仅具有阻沙蓄水的实用功能，如今更成为了旅游胜地。这真是一次特殊的旅行，我收获了震撼的美景，而更重要的，我收获了美丽背后的故事。中国，祝您好运！
更多塞罕坝国家森林的照片
Sources:
- “浑善达克沙地”, https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E6%B5%91%E5%96%84%E8%BE%BE%E5%85%8B%E6%B2%99%E5%9C%B0 (accessed 18 May 2019)
- Daly, Tom,“Beijing chokes in heavy dust as sandstorm blows in”, 28 March 2018, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-environment-sandstorm/beijing-chokes-in-heavy-dust-as-sandstorm-blows-in-idUSKBN1H408H (accessed 18 May 2019)
- Wong, Catherine, and Li, Eva, “Over 50 Beijing flights cancelled or delayed as sandstorms hit northern China”, 4 May 2017, https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2092923/air-quality-plummets-dust-sandstorms-hit-northern-china (accessed: 19 May 2019)
- “ Three-North Shelter Forest Program”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-North_Shelter_Forest_Program (accessed: 18 May 2019)
- Dr. Michael A. Bengwayan, “China Creates Largest Man-Made Forest On Top Of The World – OpEd” , 7 November 2018, https://www.eurasiareview.com/07112018-china-creates-largest-man-made-forest-on-top-of-the-world-oped/ (accessed: 18 May 2019)
- “Saihanba National Forest Park”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saihanba_National_Forest_Park (accessed: 18 May 2019)
- “热点丨一群中国人，又创了一项世界纪录！”, 7 August 2017, http://www.sohu.com/a/162996813_99915898 (accessed: 18 May 2019)
- Bin, Li,“From desert to forest: The miracle of Saihanba”, 4th August 2017, https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d417a4e7845544e/share_p.html (accessed: 18 May 2019)
- “Massive Sandstorm Hits China’s Zhangye as Smog Smothers Beijing (VIDEOS, PHOTOS)”, 27 November 2018, https://sputniknews.com/environment/201811271070156567-china-sandstorm-beijing-smog-levels/ (accessed: 18 May 2019)
- Huang, Echo, “Terrible sandstorms like the one in Beijing can shift 360,000 tons of sand and dust”, 5 May 2017, https://qz.com/976524/terrible-sandstorms-like-the-one-in-beijing-can-shift-360000-tons-of-sands-and-dust/ (accessed: 18 May 2019)
More interesting information:
- Forest Bathing – The Best Medicine
- Medicine Buddha Healing Fountain at Kechara Forest Retreat!
- Dorje Shugden Shize: A practice for healing and long life
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The Saihanba National Park, to the north of Beijing, China, covering 185,000 acres of forest was planted with 480 million trees in the time span of 57 years! What a feat in reaforestation by the 350 people who had arrived there in 1962, with the purpose of combating the desertification of the land. Their commitment and determination were shared by the next generation -their children – who continued the greening project when the pioneers retired. It was equally a labour of love for the second generation, who are now the guardians of this Park. Their inspiration and hope came from a lone 200 year old larch tree standing gallantly amid the barren wasteland.
This park has become the Green Lung of North China. It is no wonder that it received the award of Champions of the Earth from the United Nations Environment Programme!
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing on this amazing environmental project.
Air pollution refers to the release of pollutants into the air that are detrimental to human health and the planet as a whole. Nobody is safe from air pollution , the effect of air pollution is bad enough in long term causes health problems. Breathing polluted air puts us at a higher risk for asthma and other respiratory diseases. Others include headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions. Long-term health effects can include chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and even damage to the brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys as well. China has many years suffered from serious air pollution. To combat this serious problems, more forest and trees were planted. Over the years, China creates largest man-made forest on top of the world, with millions hectares of land are planted with trees. China’s government has also embarked on a forestry-responsibility campaign as they has taken air pollution as a threat to them. With the concerted effort of the entire nation, China is seen as a world model in afforestation as green. May more countries following China approach to afforestation. As the effects of air pollution are alarming in many parts of the world. Several million are known to have died due to direct or indirect effects of Air pollution.
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful sharing.
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Due to the rapid economic development and progress, many trees are cut down, natural resources have become scarce, environmental issues have become one the biggest challenge now. Global warming and climate change are the main causes of the increased occurrence of the natural disasters.
The price we pay for the development is high. However, if we preserve our forest, we are not slowing down the economy or development. In fact, having more greens can bring a lot of benefits to the country. For example, look at Saihanba National Forest Park, the entrance fees they collect annually is in thousands of millions. Not only that, the air quality has improved and people are healthier. When people are healthier, the government does not need to invest so much in the health system.
I am surprised China is actually quite advanced in environmental protection. Back in the 1960s, they had already started their environmental protection project. Back then, they didn’t know if they would be able to grow trees on barren deserts but they did not give up and they keep trying. 57 years later, they created the biggest man-made forest. This is simply amazing. China does not look at short term benefit or return. They look at the long term effects.
900 million trees are cut down annually throughout the world. Over 29 million trees are chopped off each day and 20 million acres of forests are sacrificed of which 6 million of those acres are turned into wood pulp to make paper. Given the extend of repercussions faced by China due to disrespect for its environment, a change of mindset should take precedence over just merely planting more trees to solve the grave matter. Perhaps this message may help them open their hearts to see that ‘Mother Nature’ is a *powerful force* not to be belittled or trifled with. https://bit.ly/1JiV420
Beijing have taken part in various voluntary tree planting activities and planted over 200 million trees over the past 40 years. Trees also reduce the greenhouse effect by shading houses and office buildings. This reduces the need for air conditioning which in turn reduces the amount of fossil fuels burned to produce electricity.
The combination of carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere, carbon storage in wood and the cooling effect makes trees extremely efficient tools in fighting the greenhouse effect. Planting trees remains one of the most cost-effective means of drawing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. If every American family planted one tree, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would be reduced by one billion pounds annually. This equates the amount that human activity pumps into the atmosphere each year.
China is such a powerful country. They can even turn vast barren desert land into a dense forest. Such achievements is remarkable and it proves to us that the earth can regenerate itself if we are willing to work with it.
Beijing suffers from one of the worst case of air pollution. It is clever for the Chinese government to have a future sight and started planting trees in Saihanba. Hence, now they have a vast forest that significantly reduces the occurrence of sandstorm in the city of Beijing.
Many people in different countries has started to notice the importance of forest on their lands and started the process of reforestation. Many have success in their stories and each of them have made an impact on the environment and making the earth a better place to live.
I have been recently seeing so many environmental projects by China lately in the news. I’m glad to see they are taking a proactive approach to climate change, and helping to mitigate health issues among the population. The world needs more countries like China to take an active role in helping to combat global warming. I am also very happy to see China cutting meat consumption by half. The raising of cattle, pigs etc takes up a lot of pastoral lands and damages the environment as a whole. Not to mention the health issues associated with consuming meat and it’s karmic consequences.
China has on many levels been progressive in environmental conservation, contrary to criticism from other countries. As evident with stories such as this, China has implemented protective laws and are investing in research on effective pollution control methods, such as the air purifying tower in Xian. China is such a beautiful country with its various temperate zones and differing sceneries. China under President Xi, who I see has very far-sighted vision, is heading in the right direction where there is a balance between progress and conservation. Thank you for sharing this post with us Rinpoche.
这篇文章让我对中国的环境保护态度有了很大的改观。一直以来，如我这般没机会或不去深入研究考察事实真相，而仅是依赖媒体来“喂养”我们最新时事进展的普通群众或读者，相信都会有个既定观念，认为中国绝对会为了国家经济发展，而罔顾环境保护，典当地球的健康。看了这篇文章，尤其看了这个种树计划的起始时间是57年前时，我内心是十分激动的。
1962年，中国刚才结束了长达三年，死了几千万人口的“大饥荒”时期，而也正是这个时候，“一组共350人的团队被派往塞罕坝阻止浑善达克沙地南袭。他们主要的任务是植树，透过制造人工林场来解决塞罕坝沙化现象”，而且这树一种下来，就是几十年，现在种树人的第二代已接着承载上一代的使命，继续守护着那一片森林。
一声令下，立刻就收拾包袱，离乡背井驻守那一片荒芜的沙地，还肩负几乎不可能的种树任务，而且几十年来如一日，从零开始到今天的480万棵树……我们也许没时间去研究或探查具体的过程，但只需看成果，就知道当年的那一群人完全没有辜负国家和人民对他们的期望。
如果有人再说中国是环保杀手，我想我至少可以告诉他们，事实也许并不是那么绝对。正如全球各个国家一样，中国固然有无良厂家污染环境，但也有如同过去这350人组成的团队一样，几十年来默默守护着这一片大地，一代、两代、三代……。重点是，这并不是志愿团体的热心决定，而是经过慎密考虑的国家政策，反映出的其实是中国政府即使在最恶劣的时期也没忽略过对这一块大地的照顾。