Special tree branches out to tame desert

In 2016, Ant Finance, an affiliate of Alipay, cooperated with SEE to introduce the Ant Forest platform, not only encouraging people to choose "a low-carbon way" of shopping, traveling and living, but also to help control desertification.

Through the participation of a greater number of online users, who grow virtual trees, the SEE Foundation, set up in 2008, has been providing subsidies for local herdsmen and farmers while also offering technological support to plant saxaul trees in desert areas.

According to the foundation, in 2021, more than 9.5 million saxaul trees have been planted in Alshaa League, covering about 14,670 hectares. This year, saxaul trees covering 4,333 hectares have already been planted.

Now, Zhu is the head of the foundation's project to combat desertification. He also gives lectures about saxaul trees and the fight against desertification at schools of Alshaa League and other regions of Inner Mongolia, hoping to raise awareness among young people.