China's 'green Great Wall' construction efforts enhanced by intelligent machines
This spring, the ambitious effort of afforestation at the edge of the Mu Us Desert in northern China takes on a high-tech dimension, as drones navigate the skies, delivering seedlings across expansive sand dunes, while advanced planting machines...
TroibNews 
This spring, the ambitious effort of afforestation at the edge of the Mu Us Desert in northern China takes on a high-tech dimension, as drones navigate the skies, delivering seedlings across expansive sand dunes, while advanced planting machines meticulously embed saplings into the sandy soil.
"It only takes five seconds for these robots to plant a seedling in the desert," shared Gao Fei, who was remotely controlling the two planting machines.
Gao, affiliated with the Jintaiming Technology Group in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, elaborated that these are the company's second-generation intelligent tree-planting machines. They fully automate the entire tree-planting process, from loosening the soil with an auger and placing the sapling to watering the roots, covering them with soil, and compacting the earth.
"Four such machines, still in the trial phase, were deployed this year. The production line for the machines has yet to be fully launched," Gao remarked, noting that the company holds independent intellectual property rights for the technology.
He further explained that the machines utilize cutting-edge technology to facilitate large-scale, continuous tree planting without the need for human labor. The company is also investing in the development of additional machines to cater to various planting needs.
Protecting the mother river
The nearby desert is adjacent to the irrigated lands of the Hetao area of the Yellow River, the second-longest river in China. Flowing through Inner Mongolia with its sweeping turns, this river spans over 840 kilometers within the region. Additionally, its banks are bordered by the Ulan Buh and Kubuqi deserts.
Inner Mongolia has recognized approximately 15 million hectares of desertified land across seven cities, which are significant sources and pathways for sandstorms affecting the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
To combat sandstorms, ensure food security, and protect the Yellow River – recognized as China's mother river – afforestation efforts in Inner Mongolia represent a critical front in the nation’s ambitious Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, launched in 1978 to address desertification.
Yan Wei, the director of the TSFP center in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia, mentioned that the afforestation initiative in Otog Banner, where the robots are deployed, aims to plant trees across 3,333 hectares of sandy terrain this year, with 60 percent of the tasks assisted by various types of machinery.
The program area employs 20 drones for transporting seedlings, enhancing the efficiency of moving large quantities of saplings across the complex landscape.
Meanwhile, the intelligent tree-planting machines can accomplish ten times the work of a human laborer in a single day, while costing only 30 percent of human labor expenses, Gao noted.
He added that salix mongolia, a drought-resistant willow species planted by machines, has shown a higher survival rate compared to those planted manually, fueling the company's optimism about the market prospects for intelligent planting robots.
The 'green Great Wall'
China’s achievements in constructing windbreaks in desert areas have garnered international recognition. By utilizing grass grids made from wheat straw to stabilize sand, a vast array of people have been mobilized to engage in tree planting, thereby contributing to the expansion of the “green Great Wall."
Ma Qiang, deputy director of the Inner Mongolia regional forestry and grassland administration, emphasized that anti-desertification initiatives must go beyond administrative boundaries. He highlighted the necessity of integrating desertification prevention and control with new energy projects, such as the development of wind and photovoltaic power generation in desert areas.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
"It only takes five seconds for these robots to plant a seedling in the desert," shared Gao Fei, who was remotely controlling the two planting machines.
Gao, affiliated with the Jintaiming Technology Group in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, elaborated that these are the company's second-generation intelligent tree-planting machines. They fully automate the entire tree-planting process, from loosening the soil with an auger and placing the sapling to watering the roots, covering them with soil, and compacting the earth.
"Four such machines, still in the trial phase, were deployed this year. The production line for the machines has yet to be fully launched," Gao remarked, noting that the company holds independent intellectual property rights for the technology.
He further explained that the machines utilize cutting-edge technology to facilitate large-scale, continuous tree planting without the need for human labor. The company is also investing in the development of additional machines to cater to various planting needs.
Protecting the mother river
The nearby desert is adjacent to the irrigated lands of the Hetao area of the Yellow River, the second-longest river in China. Flowing through Inner Mongolia with its sweeping turns, this river spans over 840 kilometers within the region. Additionally, its banks are bordered by the Ulan Buh and Kubuqi deserts.
Inner Mongolia has recognized approximately 15 million hectares of desertified land across seven cities, which are significant sources and pathways for sandstorms affecting the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
To combat sandstorms, ensure food security, and protect the Yellow River – recognized as China's mother river – afforestation efforts in Inner Mongolia represent a critical front in the nation’s ambitious Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, launched in 1978 to address desertification.
Yan Wei, the director of the TSFP center in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia, mentioned that the afforestation initiative in Otog Banner, where the robots are deployed, aims to plant trees across 3,333 hectares of sandy terrain this year, with 60 percent of the tasks assisted by various types of machinery.
The program area employs 20 drones for transporting seedlings, enhancing the efficiency of moving large quantities of saplings across the complex landscape.
Meanwhile, the intelligent tree-planting machines can accomplish ten times the work of a human laborer in a single day, while costing only 30 percent of human labor expenses, Gao noted.
He added that salix mongolia, a drought-resistant willow species planted by machines, has shown a higher survival rate compared to those planted manually, fueling the company's optimism about the market prospects for intelligent planting robots.
The 'green Great Wall'
China’s achievements in constructing windbreaks in desert areas have garnered international recognition. By utilizing grass grids made from wheat straw to stabilize sand, a vast array of people have been mobilized to engage in tree planting, thereby contributing to the expansion of the “green Great Wall."
Ma Qiang, deputy director of the Inner Mongolia regional forestry and grassland administration, emphasized that anti-desertification initiatives must go beyond administrative boundaries. He highlighted the necessity of integrating desertification prevention and control with new energy projects, such as the development of wind and photovoltaic power generation in desert areas.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
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