Hundreds of people in Northwest China introduce saplings every year to help retard the expansion of the Kubuqi

Two workers dig holes using a handheld seed drill so they can plant tree saplings in the Kubuqi Desert, China's seventh-largest expanse of arid land, in Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on April 27. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Editor's note: As protection of the planet's flora, fauna and resources becomes increasingly important, China Daily is publishing a series of stories to illustrate the country's commitment to safeguarding the natural world.

Every year from March to May, hundreds of workers from Gansu province and the Ningxia Hui autonomous region in Northwest China arrive at the Kubuqi Desert in Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, for the annual tree-planting season. The workers toil in the desert planting saplings as part of efforts to control the spread of the sand.

For nearly two months, they live in temporary accommodations, such as tents or cabins, deep within the desert. In order to be closer to the planting areas, the lodgings are often situated far from towns, requiring supplies to be brought in from nearby settlements.

A man changes a flat tire on a van the workers use to transport planting equipment and living supplies in the desert. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Usually operating in pairs, the workers share the task of digging tree holes, planting the saplings and transporting the materials.

Using large handheld seed drills that weigh more than 10 kilograms, the workers can dig more than 1,000 holes a day. Trekking through the sandy terrain, they carry bundles of saplings and can cover more than 10 kilometers every day.

The Kubuqi, which adjoins a stretch of the Yellow River, is the country's seventh-largest desert.

Years of concerted efforts have seen the amount of sediment running into the river from the desert reduced by 80 percent, while the vegetation coverage rate has reached 53 percent.

The dedication of the sand-control workers has played a vital role in achieving these environmental milestones.

A team member carries a seed drill on his shoulder as he walks to the planting area. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

A couple video chats with family members in their prefabricated cabin in the Kubuqi after completing their daily planting tasks. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

One worker digs tree holes while another places saplings in them. The workers usually operate in teams of two. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

A female worker carries tree-planting equipment as she treks across the desert in Ordos. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

An aerial view of the prefabricated cabin where the workers live during each year's tree-planting season in the Kubuqi. The buildings are usually located deep in the desert to reduce journey times to the planting areas. (PHOTO / XINHUA)