The picture taken on July 5, 2004 shows a forest worker inspecting sand vegetation in Minqin County, northwest China's Gansu Province.

Situated in the northeastern part of the Hexi Corridor in Gansu Province, Minqin County, surrounded by desert on its eastern, western and northern borders, has 1.52 million hectares of land of desertification. Local people have been making efforts to prevent further soil erosion, afforesting about 100,000 hectares of land and planting sand vegetation on 50,000 hectares of land in recent years. Furthermore, 330 kilometers of shelterbelt has been built in the 408-kilometer-long sand-blown line.

 The picture taken on July 5, 2004 shows the alfalfa planted to prevent soil erosion in Minqin County, northwest China's Gansu Province.