CHENGDE, July 6 (Xinhua) -- In the northern reaches of China's Hebei Province lies Saihanba, a testament to human perseverance and environmental restoration. Once a royal hunting ground during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Saihanba had, by the late 1950s, degraded into a barren wilderness. However, a visionary afforestation project initiated in 1962 has transformed this desolate land into the world's largest man-made forest, covering approximately 93,000 hectares.
Saihanba stands as a beacon of ecological success. The project was launched by China's forestry ministry with the ambitious goal of creating an artificial forest to block the southward movement of sandland. Three generations of dedicated Saihanba foresters have worked tirelessly to reverse the deteriorating trend of the local ecology.
Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2017, the Saihanba afforestation project was honored with the UN Champions of the Earth Award, recognizing its remarkable achievement in transforming degraded land into a lush, green paradise. This accolade underscores the global significance of Saihanba's environmental restoration efforts.
Today, Saihanba has evolved into a national forest park and nature reserve, serving as an important ecological shield for Beijing and the surrounding regions. The forest plays a crucial role in improving air quality, conserving water, and providing a habitat for diverse wildlife.
