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Inner Mongolia II  
Episode Ⅰ >>

    Traditionally Mongolians endured a rough lifestyle as shepherds and horse breeders, they moved with the seasons in search of pastures for their animals. It is these natural grazing lands that nurtured a unique way of life and nourished a long and splendid history.

    At the mercy of the environment the Mongols based their religion on the forces of nature; the moon, sun, stars, as well as the rivers were all revered.

    According to an investigation made by the forestry sector, at present, 60 percent of the autonomous region's 1.18 million square kilometers's land has become sterile desert. And what's worse, the desertification is spreading at the speed of 667, 000 hectares a year.

    In recent years, China has pushed its efforts to reconstruct the ecology in Inner Mongolia. In 2000 alone, the government injected into this region 200 million US dollars in environmental construction, which was a total of all the investment in the previous 20 years. Meanwhile, Inner Mongolia itself also takes protective measures to restore vegetation on its massive land. In different areas different measures are adopted to suit the local conditions.

    Inner Mongolia expects to achieve the following targets in ecological construction: in five years, curb the deterioration of the environment effectively by returning 1,330,000 hectares of grain plots to forestry and building up 7,000,000 hectares of grassland; by 2010, bring the soil erosion and desertification under control; by the middle of this century, create a sound ecological system with well-developed pastures, forests and rivers, which can protect the environment of the northern China.

    Inner Mongolia has adopted new animal husbandry practices in its economically important livestock industry. In time with the West China Development Project, herdsmen have adjusted management practices to minimize the impact of grazing on their fragile environment.

    A variety of measures have been taken by the Inner Mongolian government to improve its ecology, such as closing or suspending grazing, returning farmland to forestry, promoting raising livestock in sheds and relocating people.

    Once grasslands, the effects of over-grazing and soil erosion turned much of this area into barren dessert. Nowadays the government is encouraging individuals and enterprises to participate in the reforestation of these areas.

    According to statistics, in recent years, the desertified land in China has reached 2,600,000 square kilometers, which occupies more than 20 percent of the country's territory. Every year, the economic loss directly caused by the wind and sand disaster reaches nearly 1 billion US dollars. Many enterprises in China have been drawn to developing the huge sand industry, which can bring them both economic and social benefits. According to incomplete statistics of the Chinese forestry sectors, dozens of new oases have formed in the desert of western China. This is a sand industry base set up by the enterprises that are engaged in ecological construction.

    There is one artificial oasis called Engebei in the Kubuqi Desert. In recent six years, millions of dollars have been invested into this region for a large scale of afforestation. With the help of some Japanese experts, the vegetation coverage in Engebei has increased from 5 percent to 90 percent. While the environment is improving, people here begin to develop tourism and diversified farming.

    In Engebei, the name of Touyama is often mentioned. Mr. Touyamawas the chairman of the Japanese Sand-dune Association in 1967. In 1984, he set up the Japanese Aid Team for Greening China's Desert. Since then, with the help of Mr. Touyama, more than 1000 Japanese have come to China at their own expenses to participate in the afforestation of the desert. Most of the Japanese volunteers who are now working in Engebei are Mr. Touyama 's followers.

     Pangu is the largest private enterprise in Inner Mongolia. In recent years, it has build up a 100-hectare modern agriculture demonstration zone and biological engineering base, which is engaged in improving the ecological system and developing agriculture and livestock industry. The advanced technologies adopted here, such as gene engineering and water-saving irrigation, have spurred the modernization of the region's farming and begun to make profits.

    Planting trees and lucrative crops on the desert can not only stabilize the sands but also bring economic benefits to enterprises and individuals. These days in Inner Mongolia, many people have set foot in this field.

    Inner Mongolia has two major economic resources. One is its livestock industry and the other is the production of its mineral reserves. The exploitation of such industry can come at a price. The government has taken measures to protect its natural resources and ensure its economic future.

    Inner Mongolia boasts abundant mineral resources, with more than 120 kinds of minerals verified in this region. Its reserves of rare earth, niobium, platinum and agate rank first in the world, and its coal reserve stands second in China. The region also has considerable luminous energy, wind energy, waterpower and fishery resources. Meanwhile, Inner Mongolia is one of the most important bases of energy, raw material, iron and steel manufacture, coal products, forestry and dairy industries in China. In addition, there are also well-developed sectors such as electric power, machine manufacture and light industry.

    Founded in 1992, Baotou Rare-Earth Hi-Tech Development Zone in Inner Mongolia is the first such establishment in China. It is also the only hi-tech zone devoted to the development of rare earth.

    Founded in 1993, Hefa is the first private hi-tech enterprise. After eight years' development, it has grown into one of the core rare-earth enterprises of China. Hefa's total assets have reached 18.1 million US dollars.

    The Mongols once used the dried remains as their sole heat resource. These days the discovery of oil and natural gas deposits means farmers no longer have to rely on their traditional methods.

    In 1999, the Inner Mongolia autonomous government, with assistance from Chinese central government, approved and implemented the West China Development Project. The mission of the project is to safeguard and nurture this fragile region by restoring ecological balance, and practicing sustainable development. Such a project increases Inner Mongolia's potential for growth, and will provide a benchmark for other ecologically fragile regions in China.

  Editor:Liu BaoYin  CCTV.com


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