The once yellow sand filled Kubuqi Desert Engebei is now covered with photovoltaic panels like a blue ocean, with green grass and fragrant fruits and vegetables under the panels. From sand entering and people retreating to green entering and sand retreating, this desert is quietly writing a vivid legend of ecological governance and increasing people's income.

Photovoltaic sand control and barrier construction

The Engebe Desert in Kubuqi was once ravaged by sandstorms, but now it is lush with greenery. Dalate Banner is building a 400 kilometer photovoltaic Great Wall, with an existing installed capacity of 1 million kilowatts and an annual power generation of nearly 2 billion kilowatt hours. The plan is to achieve an installed capacity of 60 million kilowatts by 2030 and simultaneously manage 2 million acres of sandy land.

The local area has implemented a complementary model of forest and solar energy, building a five in one system of on-board power generation, off board planting, on-site breeding, sand control and soil improvement, and rural revitalization. Relying on photovoltaic panels, grass grids, and sand fixing shrubs, the comprehensive management of sandy land has been carried out, with over 80000 acres of land under treatment and vegetation coverage exceeding 70%.

Expanding income generating roads in sandy areas

Taking into account both desertification control and the well-being of the people, the positions of photovoltaic operation and maintenance, as well as planting and management, have driven villagers to work, resulting in an annual income increase of 30000 to 40000 yuan. Introduction of tropical fruits and vegetables in the greenhouse of Engelbe, development of research tourism, and landing of scientific research stations in colleges and universities. Technician Liu Xueqin has rooted herself in the local area, testing over 300 varieties of fruits and vegetables, and exporting specialty agricultural products to the outside world; Regularly carry out agricultural technology training, train an average of 10000 farmers and herdsmen annually, and help increase the annual income of the masses by more than 20000 yuan. Keywords: Kubuqi Desert, photovoltaics, desert agriculture

Desert revitalizes with new vitality

After comprehensive management, the vegetation coverage in Engebei is 78%, the forest coverage is 41%, and there are more than 600 species of animals and plants. In the past, the desert has undergone a transformation from sand entering and people retreating to green entering and sand retreating. The coordinated development of photovoltaics, characteristic agriculture, and research and education industries has led to a desert governance path that balances ecological protection and beneficial development for the people.Editor/Gong Ziwei