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South China’s Karst region is known for its wild landscapes, rich biodiversity and traditional rural villages. Despite this idyllic image, life for local people can be tough; rocky desertification is creeping across the area, in part driven by deforestation, making it near impossible to grow crops. Many local families live in precarious conditions, so they decided to take action and restore their land.
The barren rocky land being planted with trees belongs to the villagers, with the village committees managing it on their behalf. Many community meetings were held throughout the project design and implementation to ensure that everyone who wanted could voice an opinion. The tree species were carefully selected to have the highest chance of survival on the inhospitable land, among them: Pine, China fir and Cypress; they are fast-growing, shallow rooting and adaptable to the local soil.
As well as sequestering carbon as the trees grow, the forest will provide further benefits for the environment and the local community. The project increases the connectivity of forests, which is critical for wildlife to thrive and the tree roots stabilise the soil as they grow, preventing erosion and mudslides and desertification. With the improved soil and water quality, families can once again grow crops either to feed themselves or sell. The project also directly creates stable and well-paid jobs and training opportunities, including technical knowledge that can lead to a significant rise in prospects, particularly for young people living in the area.
To learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals verified by the standard for this project, please check the registry link.
