The Yarlung Zangbo River is the longest plateau river in China and the mother river of the Tibetan people. Through nearly 40 years of unremitting efforts, the southern section of the Yarlung Zangbo River, which has been hit by wind and sand, has been covered by lush forests, basically forming a green corridor. According to Shi Zhenwei, deputy director of the Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Shannan City, Tibet, during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, Shannan City completed ecological safety barriers to prevent and control sand in an area of 656,600 mu, afforestation area of 401,700 acres, and a closed mountain area of 176,200 acres.

The monitoring data of the Tibet Autonomous Region Meteorological Bureau shows that the Lhasa Gonggar Airport located in the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley has reduced the number of severe wind and sand weather year by year; the ambient air quality in Lhasa has been generally good for many years, and the good air quality rate from January to October 2020 reached 94.4%. This is inseparable from tree planting.

Shannan City has an average elevation of 3,500 meters above sea level, and the annual rainfall is only 300 mm. Many places are called "Forbidden Afforestation Zones." Since 1983, the local forestry department has carried out artificial afforestation along the Yarlung Zangbo River and has achieved success. Since then, the state has continuously increased its investment and implemented contiguous high-standard afforestation projects.

Chinese "foresters" challenged the "forbidden afforestation zone" and accumulated a large number of scientific and technological achievements in afforestation and sand control in alpine and arid areas, and afforestation and greening work has achieved remarkable results. Editor/He Yuting

This is the southern section of the Yarlung Zangbo River covered by forest trees

Yarlung Zangbo River

Aerial view of Sanye Town, Shannan City

On a heavily deserted hillside in the southern section of the Yarlung Zangbo River, nearby villagers are planting trees

In the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley in Shannan City, villagers are maintaining grass grids for sand fixation

Saplings used for voluntary tree planting in Jiangbei of Shannan City

Villagers in Liuqiong Village, Jixiong Town, Gongga County, Shannan City are watering the saplings

Villagers in Liuqiong Village, Jixiong Town, Gongga County, Shannan City, inspecting the growth of saplings