Saihanba bags UN's top environmental award

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, December 06, 2017
Adjust font size:

China's Saihanba afforestation community on Tuesday scooped a prestigious UN environmental award for its outstanding contribution to , amid the national efforts to advance ecological civilization.


Saihanba Afforestation Community was awarded the UN's highest environmental honor on December 5 2017, in Nairobi, Kenya. [Photo/China Plus]


The announcement about Saihanba afforestation community emerging among top winners of the annual UN Champions of the Earth Award was made in Nairobi during the ongoing third edition of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA3).

Erik Solheim, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), hailed Saihanba community for pioneering innovative but cost effective grassroots led initiatives to reclaim degraded landscapes.

"The Saihanba afforestation community has transformed degraded land into lush green paradise-- part of a new Great Wall of vegetation that will play a part in helping protect millions from air pollution and preserving precious water supplies," Solheim remarked.

He added that the Chinese conservation group has inspired the global community to start a new conversation on effective measures to adopt in order to restore the health of vital ecosystems.

"The work is proof that environmental degradation can be reversed, and that this is an investment worth making," Solheim remarked, adding that grassroots initiatives have often proved to have profound impact on environmental conservation globally.

Wang Wenbiao, the chairman of Elion Resources Group, was awarded the UN's highest environmental honor on December 5 2017, in Nairobi, Kenya. [Photo: China Plus / Xing Yihang]

Wang Wenbiao, the chairman of Elion Resources Group, was awarded the UN's highest environmental honor on December 5 2017, in Nairobi, Kenya. [Photo: China Plus / Xing Yihang]

The Saihanba region that covers about 93,000 hectares in north China's Hebei Province almost became a waste land in the 1950s due to rampant felling of trees which made it possible for wind to blow sand into Beijing and adjacent regions.

Hundreds of foresters in 1962 embarked on tree planting in Saihanba given the heavy price they were paying due to rapid desertification.

Three generation of foresters from Saihanba have managed to increase the forest cover from 11.4 percent to 80 percent while the reclaimed landscape currently supplies some 137 million cubic meters of clean water to Beijing.

At the same time, the restored forest has stimulated growth of green sectors of the economy that generate an estimated 15.1 million U.S. dollars in 2016.

Liu Haiying, head of Saihanba Forest Farm said that restoring degraded forests has capacity to unleash huge ecological, social and monetary benefits.

"I believe that as long as we continue to promote ecological civilization, generation after generation, China can create more green miracles like Saihanba and achieve harmony between humans and nature," said Liu.

Heads of the UN Environment and inspirational environmental leaders take group photos on December 5 2017, in Nairobi, Kenya. [Photo: China Plus / Xing Yihang]

Heads of the UN Environment and inspirational environmental leaders take group photos on December 5 2017, in Nairobi, Kenya. [Photo: China Plus / Xing Yihang]

China bagged three of the six prizes presented to pioneers in environmental conservation during this year's edition of Champions of the Earth Award.

In addition to Saihanba, which won in the category of "Inspiration and Action," Chinese bike-sharing company Mobike, which has revolutionized urban mobility, and Wang Wenbiao, Chairman of Elion Resources Group that is credited with transforming deserts into pristine oasis, also reaped the coveted environmental award.

They were awarded in the categories of "Entrepreneurial Vision" and "Lifetime Achievement Award" respectively.

Other famous names who received UN's top environmental honor includes the President of Chile Michelle Bachelet.


Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
ChinaNews App Download
Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:    
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter