The tree planting trip, which had been paused for three years due to COVID, finally resumed in June 2023! The eight spots reserved for the volunteers remained vacant. They are Georgina Li, Jennifer Yan, Sissi Zou, Sharon Cheng, Chunyong Chi, and Hyman Tang from DC, along with Betty Chen and Qi Pan from tSS.
tesa Club's another event - "Sustainability Health and Energy" 21-day themed event held in April this year also joined forces with the tree planting trip. Colleagues accumulated points through various physical activities, contributing to environmental conservation and sustainable development efforts, ultimately resulting in the exchange of 10,000 trees.
As of now, tesa has donated a total of 20,500 trees, covering an afforested area of 160,600 square meters, equivalent to the size of 20 standard football fields.
Now, let's follow special correspondent Georgina Li to explore the site firsthand!
Activity itinerary
On June 29, 2023, the Desheng volunteer team consisting of members from Suzhou, Fengxian Logistics Center, and Shanghai office gathered in Shanghai Pudong and departed for Inner Mongolia Tongliao on a public welfare trip via a transfer in Shenyang with other Root & Shoots volunteers. After a 12-hour journey, they arrived at the edge of the desertification area in Kezuohouqi, Tongliao.
The volunteers worked under the scorching sun and wind to plant and water Siberian elms and cleared and trimmed the public welfare forest. The entire Root & Shoots volunteer team planted more than 300 Siberian elm seedlings, making substantial contributions to greening and sand fixation in the desert area.
At the same time, they also cleaned and pruned over 500 poplar and pine trees planted by Root & Shoots in 2012, ensuring their growth status and ecological function. This is the result of the collective labor of the volunteer team and the firm commitment of Desheng to environmental protection and sustainable development.
Ecological Workshop
In addition to participating in ecological tree-planting activities, Root & Shoots volunteers also conducted two workshops during the two-day event to explain the unequal distribution of water resources in arid areas, the causes of soil desertification in Keerqin, and the principles and underlying logic of China's current sand control work.
The Keerqin desertification area is located in Inner Mongolia and is one of China's important desertification zones. For a long time, desertification has caused enormous difficulties for the local ecology and residents' lives, resulting in intense conflicts between humans and the environment. Siberian elm is an excellent anti-sand tree species suitable for harsh ecological environments, with good wind resistance and sand fixation capabilities, playing an essential role in the restoration of sandy areas and ecological recovery. Through the planting of Siberian elms, we hope to help improve soil quality and slow down desertification in the Keerqin desertification area.
Activity Reflection
The Desheng Tape ambassadors experienced the difficult challenges of sand control work through practical activities. The harsh reality of land desertification made us deeply realize the importance of protecting the ecological environment and also gained reverence for nature and determination to protect the environment. At the same time, this activity also enhanced the cohesion and cooperation among team members, achieving fruitful results in collective labor.
After returning to the company, we look forward to passing on this responsibility and awareness to more people, allowing the concept of environmental protection and sustainable development to take root and sprout in every corner of Desheng Tape.
Related Information
In Mongolian, "Taminchagan" means "white devil." It is about 60 kilometers long and 5 kilometers wide, with an altitude between 250 and 300 meters. It twists and turns into the territory of Keerqin Zuoqi and runs from east to west along the southern edge of Tuodian area in the north of Kulun.
Natural factors of Keerqin desertification:
Soil: The soil parent material in grassland areas of Inner Mongolia (such as Keerqin) is mostly river and lake sediment, characterized by sandy texture, large particles, and loose structure. The surface layer of soil rich in organic matter develops on the sandy parent material, which is very thin and fragile. This type of soil texture is highly prone to desertification.
Water: Most parts of Inner Mongolia receive less than 400mm of rainfall per year, and the distribution is extremely uneven, making it difficult for the soil surface to form a rapid biological protection and for soil to form a stable cohesive structure.
Wind: Wind is the main erosion force leading to desertification. Strong winds strip particles from the soil structure and generate further forces that splash more particles, gradually forming a large-scale motion. Inner Mongolia is almost dominated by monsoon throughout the year, especially during the spring season from March to May when wind speeds are the highest.
Related Links:根与芽内蒙植树活动http://www.mtpchina.org/trip-1
Source: tesa China
