Li Shaoyang looked at the weather outside and said, "Sandstorms like this often happen in the northern regions in winter. Sometimes it's hard to breathe outside."
Ye Shuning said, "This is because the vegetation in the northern desert has been destroyed, and there's a lack of management. As people retreat, the sand advances, and the desert is getting closer and closer to Kyoto. That's why every winter, when strong winds hit, they're like these sandstorms. This is a very dangerous sign. If we don't manage it quickly, it's going to get worse."
Li Shaoting has now been transferred to a certain department and has some knowledge of sand control. He shook his head and said, "Desert control is not easy. Desert areas lack water, and sand doesn't retain water, so even if you plant it, it's difficult for plants to survive. In fact, some people in the north have been persistently working on desert control, but the results have been minimal."
Ye Shuning recalled the methods of sand control and prevention in her previous life, frowning and saying, "Although there are people controlling the desertification in the north now, it seems that when they control it here, there are people destroying it there. Excessive reclamation, grazing, and mining have severely damaged the vegetation in the desert areas. How can the control be as fast as the destruction? That's why there has been no effect, and it's only getting worse."
Li Shaoting found it to be true. He had also heard some staff members there complain that the damage was not happening as fast as the treatment, and they were powerless.
Li Shaoting knew that Ye Shuning had a lot of ideas in her head. "Xiao Ning, what measures do you think should be taken to effectively prevent and control desertification?"
Ye Shuning thought about the methods of sand prevention and control she knew in her previous life and said, "In terms of sand prevention and control, we should adapt to local conditions, take precautions based on the hazards, prioritize protection, and implement comprehensive management. Where trees are suitable, trees should be planted; where shrubs are suitable, shrubs should be planted; where grass is suitable, grass should be planted. We should adopt comprehensive measures, focusing on the construction of forest and grass vegetation, to strengthen surface cover and reduce dust sources.
As for specific measures, the first one is to strengthen closed-off protection, learn from the lessons of previous governance and destruction at the same time, put an end to destructive behaviors such as excessive reclamation, excessive grazing, and excessive mining, curb the activation of sandy land, and protect vegetation in sandy areas.
Second, measures such as tree and grass planting will be taken to quickly restore forest and grass vegetation in the sandy areas. The area of forest and grass vegetation will be expanded through measures such as closing mountains for afforestation, artificial afforestation, grass planting, and small watershed management.
Third, we will implement measures to return farmland to forests and grasslands to curb the formation of new desertification. Sloping farmland and desertified farmland with low and unstable grain yields and unsuitable for cultivation will be systematically returned to forests and grasslands. While this is likely to be difficult, we must also prevent indiscriminate reclamation.
Fourth, pastoral areas should adopt measures such as improving pastoral methods, improving pastoral structure, and improving grasslands to restore and enhance the production capacity and ecological functions of grasslands, implement grazing bans and indoor feeding, change free-range feeding to captive feeding, and reduce the pressure of vegetation destruction.
Fifth, adopt reasonable water resource management measures, promote the rational allocation and coordinated use of water for living, production and ecological use through water-saving irrigation and water source project supporting measures, and improve the utilization rate of water resources.
Sixth, we should establish shelterbelts to reduce wind speeds and mitigate and block sandstorms. By establishing grassland shrub forest networks and farmland forest networks, we can protect farmland and pastures from sandstorms and promote stable and high grain yields. That's all I can think of."
Although Ye Shuning was almost reading from a book, this was also a very effective measure summarized by many people in the previous life, and it should be of great reference value for the current sand prevention and control.
Li Shaoting had only asked that question, but he hadn't expected Ye Shuning to say so much. He felt that each of Ye Shuning's measures made sense, but they were difficult to implement.
Li Shaozhong and Li Shaoyang also think that these measures are good, but they are very difficult to implement.
Li Shaoting said, "Xiao Ning, the measures you mentioned are very difficult to implement. For example, returning farmland to forest or grassland is extremely difficult. People can't even afford to eat right now, and they're desperately trying to find ways to get enough to eat. How can we possibly convert farmland back into forest or grassland?"
Ye Shuning said: "In fact, some places are severely desertified, and even if we plant crops, we can't harvest much food. However, we can plant some cash crops to make up for the reduction in food income.
For example, we can grow cold- and drought-resistant Juncao. This perennial Juncao not only has a high yield, but can also be used as a culture medium to cultivate a variety of edible fungi, such as shiitake and oyster mushrooms. It can also be used as feed for cattle, sheep, and pigs, all of which can create economic benefits. It also helps conserve water and soil, preventing soil erosion.
Li Shaoting was very interested in the mushroom grass that Ye Shuning mentioned. "Is there really such a thing as mushroom grass? Where can I find it?"
This question stumped Ye Shuning, because there is indeed no such mushroom grass suitable for cultivation in the northwest region, and it has probably not been cultivated yet.
The country is also lagging behind in agriculture. In her previous life, she knew that the mushroom grass grown in the northwest region was also successfully cultivated after many years of research by scientists.
As far as Ye Shuning knows, the mushroom grass was originally introduced from abroad. It took scientists years of research to cultivate mushroom grass suitable for cultivation in the northwest region.
Ye Shuning sighed and said, "I took it for granted. There is currently no mushroom grass suitable for cultivation in the northwest region. The mushroom grass I know of is mostly suitable for growing in tropical and subtropical regions.
In fact, the Northwest, especially areas not suitable for growing grain, can find some economic crops suitable for local cultivation. As I mentioned, there is a lot of room for the cultivation of edible fungi, such as shiitake mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, and oyster mushrooms. Mushrooms like shiitake mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms can be dried after they grow, making them much easier to sell.
We can also study the temperature, sunshine, and other climatic conditions in the northwest region to find suitable grape varieties. Grapes can be used to make wine and raisins, and we can also grow medicinal herbs like goji berries, all of which can generate significant economic returns. However, this still requires exploration."
Li Shaoting thought it made sense, and his thinking broadened. "What you said is a good way to get rich. However, they are quite technical, and it's difficult to popularize them. We could provide farmers with technical training, but I'm afraid they won't accept it or respond."
Ye Shuning said, "The local government can take the lead in establishing two pilot projects. Once they succeed, they can use the facts to speak for themselves. This will be more effective than your dry propaganda."
Li Shaoting nodded and looked at the dim sky outside. He sighed and said, "I've seen the poverty in the northwest. There's almost no time of year when people don't go hungry. In some places, families only have a few sets of clothes, and whoever goes out wears them. Others don't have quilts, so several people in a family share one. In winter, there's no cotton in cotton-padded clothes, so they have to fill them with reed flowers.
农民靠天吃饭，可是沙漠地带的那些农民就是整天长在地里也不会有多少粮食产出。他们依然要饿肚子。很多人每年都要出去要饭，不然就活不下去。如果真能找到让他们致富的方法那就太好了。”
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