image: The Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences discussed the various initiatives undertaken and the progress made in combating desertification and transforming the arid lands of Africa into flourishing ecosystems. They released the first ever video of the China-Africa Green Technology Park built in Mauritania.
Credit: The Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences
The Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) specializes in research and innovation in arid zone ecology and the environment. Recently, XIEG in collaboration with the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Forestry and Grassland Bureau hosted the "Green Technology, Green Future" side event during the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking the 30th anniversary of UNCCD. At the conference themed "Our Land, Our Future," this side event showcased China’s various achievements in combating desertification and supporting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the African Great Green Wall initiative.
Green Scenario: China-Africa Green Technology Park
One of the key highlights of the event was the first ever release of the video on the China-Africa Green Technology Park built in Mauritania which covers 40 mu (approximately 6.58 acres) and consists of a Green Technology Park and a Carbon Forestry Demonstration Zone. This park promotes eco-friendly technologies in African industrial areas, supported by research and advanced technologies. This initiative aims to address livelihood crises such as mitigating desertification and improving economic development in Africa. Scientists from XIEG played a crucial role in the park’s success, with the objective of preventing and controlling desertification. They successfully transferred experiences from green restoration projects in the Taklimakan Desert to the Sahara. To advance the “African Great Green Wall” initiative, XIEG conducted a series of scientific experiments, technical training programs and demonstrations in the Global South, aligned with their developmental goals.
Some of the park's initiatives include solar-powered desert control, smart irrigation, and desert soil improvement, all aimed at combating desertification and promoting sustainable livelihoods. These contributions underscore XIEG’s dedication to advancing the African Great Green Wall initiative and fostering a stronger collaboration between China and Africa.
Voices From the Global South
Mr. Sidna Ould Ahmed Ely, Director of Mauritania's National Great Green Wall Agency, shared the pressing challenges his region faces and expressed a strong willingness for cooperation. He said, “We, the Sahara countries, are facing the challenging issues such as food and water scarcity, and we need solutions, and that is what I am looking for from ‘Green technology, Green Future.’ I really appreciate the partnership with the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, for making this vision a reality.”
The event also saw the renewal of the memorandum of understanding with the Pan-African “Great Green Wall Secretariat”. A roundtable dialogue, featuring panelists from international environmental institutes of Uzbekistan, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, and China, emphasized the critical need for global collaboration to address desertification.
Mr. Huang Caiyi, Director of the Desertification Control Department at the State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China highlighted China’s interest in global participation to alleviate desertification. He stated, “China is willing to work together at the global level to control and prevent desertification using various technological advancements.”
A Vision for the Future
With renewed international collaborations and insightful discussions, the event highlighted China's collective commitment in addressing desertification and promoting greener technologies, as well as the global community’s unprecedented vision of international cooperation in tackling this shared challenge for humanity. Dr. Marcelin Sanou, the Chief of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) at the Secretariat of the Pan-African Great Green Wall Initiative, expressed his gratitude and concluded, “The experiences from Mauritania serve as a good example for future cooperation. We must continue this cooperation and implement these projects, as only by working together, we can go further.”
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