In April 1988, people planted trees on the Chaohu Forest Farm in Jinta county, Gansu province. [Photo by Zhao Liyun/Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

After 60 years of effort, Jinta county in Gansu province has transformed itself. What was one of the most desertified areas in China is now an oasis.

People in Jinta county planted 4,466 hectares of euphrates poplar in the west, south and east side of the county. Together with original scenic spot, there are 10,000 hectares of artificial Populus euphratica forest. 

"In the past, the desert expanded. Now the desert is shrinking, thanks to our efforts. The Gobi Desert of the past has become an oasis now, and the ecological environment of Jinta has been greatly improved," said Wang Duanzheng, former deputy director of Chaohu forest farm in Jinta county.

In recent years, Jinta county effectively prevented dune flow and reduced the damage of windblown sand with gravel compression and sand fixation using plastic grids, simulated shrubs and other biological approaches. 

Now 35 percent of the moving sand dunes are basically under control, and 18 of the most harmful wind passages have been effectively tamed. The forest coverage rate reached 4.04 percent after afforestation.