In Kubuqi deserts, in China, researchers at Chongqing Jiaotong university found a way to turn deserts into forests to prevent sandstorms.

Throughout the past 40 years, the Earth has lost a third of its arable land to erosion and degradation. Deforestation, overgrazing, and overuse of water by people are some of the leading factors responsible for desertification. In china there is four principals types : 1-aeolian desertification which is caused by wind erosion, 2- water and soil loss due to water erosion, 3-salinization due to poor water management, and  4- rock desertification.

Currently, 27,4 % of China is desertified land, affecting about 400 million people. «The main problem China faces is an oversized population living in the drylands,» Wang said. «We are losing more land every year,» Barbut said. «Today we are losing more than 12 million hectares of land every year, so the situation is worsening,». China’s efforts to fight the problem have seen mixed results including desert turning into forest.

The researchers created a paste that can turn sand into soil. The paste is made of materials found naturally in plants. Sand mixed with this material retains water, nutrients and air. It took them 6 months to transform 200 hectares of desert (It represents more than 1500 football field) with a cost between 4500 and 6500 US per hectares .They are also thinking of transforming 13000 hectares ( that is approximately 1 200 000 football fields )in the next few years.

The success of China of reversing desertification is acclaimed all over the world. Forest cover reduce run off, decreasing flash floods and retain water in the ground. Generally as the soils build up organic detritus, the forest becomes self sustaining and stable. More animals and birds also move into these areas and introduce suitable local plants increasing diversity slowly.

But, while they plant more trees, it will further reduce discharge, it will also make China’s water crisis worse, as more trees need more water to grow and 85% of the water in the city’s major rivers was undrinkable in 2015, according to official standards, and 56.4% was unfit for any purpose.

Finally, china’s discovery is an improvement to prevent from sandstorm but it also worsens the water crisis.

written by: Naima de Chantal and Alexiane Vachon edited by: Laurie Cardinal