Loess Plateau Marvel!

To kick-start 2023, here's an old news piece that filled me with joy: Re-greening the Loess Plateau.
​In 1994, China began the largest redevelopment project in the world.
​The Loess Plateau is located in China’s Northwest (which takes its name from the dry powdery wind-blown soil). Centuries of overuse and overgrazing led to one of the highest erosion rates in the world and widespread poverty.

---

A staggering combination of: innovation, education and financial support; a huge investment in labour; the switch to sustainable farming practices - lifted more than 2.5 million people, in four of China’s poorest provinces, out of poverty. 
Farmers’ incomes doubled, employment diversified... and a degraded environment the size of France was revitalised. 

Loess Plateau before

---

This is perhaps my favourite, inspirational example of what we can do with political will.
While away a happy 10 minutes + to see how it was done
here  and  here 

---

Loess Plateau after