Hebei Province’s Saihanba is the planet’s largest man-made forest and a testament to the decades of faithful work committed to the area by forestry experts and workers. Saihanba today is 750 square kilometers of dense forest and is responsible for purifyi
Hebei Province’s Saihanba is the planet’s largest man-made forest and a testament to the decades of faithful work committed to the area by forestry experts and workers. Saihanba today is 750 square kilometers of dense forest and is responsible for purifying over 100 million cubic meters of water annually.
Photo Credit: China Radio International
Before 1962, Saihanba was a barren wasteland with only 12% forest cover. By 2016, that number had increased to 80%. The ‘Tree of Merit” in the photo above convinced visiting forestry experts that more could be planted.
Photo Credit: People’s Daily Online
With a small-but-mighty crew of 369 able workers, the Saihanba reforestation project began. Many of them left their previous homes and lives to move to Hebei and join the work.
Photo Credit: china.org.cn
Although challenged with long periods of frost and drought in the 1970s and 1980s which resulted in the death of flora and fauna in the Saihanba, the work continued and the forest began to flourish.
Photo Credit: ecns.cn
At present, the Saihanba measures 185,000 square acres of heavily forested land. The Saihanba’s trees can absorb 747,000 tons of carbon dioxide and release 545,000 tons of oxygen each day. The Saihanba has become a showpiece of three generations of hard work and persistence. The region is studied and has been used as an example of how deserted land can be transformed into valuable and vital forests. The northern China area’s success has been so notable that the term ‘the Saihanba Spirit’ has come to signify bravery and commitment and brought Hebei praise and accolades from around the world.
Photo Credit: China Pictorial
Source: china.org.cn, Beijing Review
