Loess Plateau - China

Home to more than 50 million people, the Loess Plateau in China's Northwest takes its name from the dry powdery wind-blown soil. Centuries of overuse and overgrazing led to one of the highest erosion rates in the world and widespread poverty.

Two projects set out to restore China's heavily degraded Loess Plateau through one of the world's largest erosion control programs with the goal of returning this poor part of China to an area of sustainable agricultural production.

More than 2.5 million people in four of China's poorest provinces -- Shanxi, Shaanxi and Gansu, as well as the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region -- were lifted out of poverty. Through the introduction of sustainable farming practices, farmers' incomes doubled, employment diversified and the degraded environment was revitalized.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• china
• asia
• worldbank
• world
• bank
• soil
• erosion

[mbenall3]

I liked the vid! The locals have a more greener place to live.

[loveflowers39]

I think these people are doing the right thing by restoring the area they live in.

[loveflowers39]

Humans are the worm in the apple! Let us note devour it too quick. Its the only apple we have. When push comes to shove people will do anything, devour anything, in order to survive. Drop condoms from the sky and stop overpopulation.

[loveflowers39]

I think you are a pesimist. You stop feeding the 3rd world as you call it and they will come and get you. The world is too small for a 3rd world. Unfortunately we are all in this together. Feed them, give them condems and try and make them disease free. They don't want to have children anymore then we do but they have no contreceptives.

[Gogfreak1984]

We'll need a dictatorship to accomplish that. Seriously, democracy (the political weapon of money), in one form or another, is what's doing it in. "The People" can seldom be counted upon to do anything of lasting value. What can a responsible government do? Stop feeding the Third World, which only grows larger and more impoverished with each wave of "Humanitarian Aid." Transition away from the car. Scrap the unparalleled folly that is Globalism. Start doing things more locally. No other choices.

[inventorisac]

Alternativas e Projetos Sustentaveis para: Energia; Qualidade do Ar; Economia; Qualidade de Vida e mais: Conservação da Natureza. Procura-se: Opoio; Parcerias; Patrocinadores ou Investidores para Ganharmos Muito com isso e Salvarmos o Planeta do Aquecimento Global.

[loveflowers39]

How will we ever restore this planet? It will not be easy to find another one. We better get started on restoring this one. Thanks !

[SouthernBell86]

Wow! This is wonderful :) I remember going to Gansu Province in 2002 and seeing all the terraces and just thinking it was one of the most beautiful places on earth.