Drones plant seedlings in Beijing's Three-North Shelterbelt project

A group of drones took off into the sky above the northern Yanshan mountains on Monday in Beijing, carrying tree seedlings to steep slopes 800 meters above sea level to mark the beginning of the capital's first drone-supported forest planting project.

Located in the Shixia area of the Badaling Forest Farm under the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, the new project aims to improve efficiency in traditional forest planting methods while minimizing harm to the environment.

"Each drone can carry more than 10 seedlings per trip, allowing precise planting in difficult cliff areas and reducing harm to existing plants," said Yao Yonggang, a grassland and forestry expert who was appointed as Party chief of Yumugou Village last year.

According to the forest farm management, using drones has made cliffside planting possible. The practice is a crucial step in expanding green spaces in urban areas.

This spring, the Badaling Forest Farm, a key part of China's Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, adopted cutting-edge technology to enhance the city's efforts in ecological restoration.

As part of the sixth phase of the program, the farm has committed to restoring 8,146 mu of artificial forests and degraded woodlands by 2025.

Besides the drone project, the farm plans to create a "colorful" Great Wall landscape, blending cultural heritage into forest protection.

"In the past, it was a dusty land near the place, and now it has become a green shield for the Great Wall," said Fang Hao, a nearby resident. According to the local government, Badaling Forest Farm has transformed from a barren area with less than 4 percent forest cover to a lush belt with 75 percent coverage.

Yao has developed a model for rural vitalization that combines ecological and economic benefits.

Over two years, the villagers planted 1,000 Chinese toona trees and 300 cherry trees on previously barren slopes, creating a "green bank" expected to start making a profit by 2026.

China's Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program is a 70-year initiative launched in 1978 to combat desertification in the country's northern regions.

Recent innovations, such as drone seeding and AI-powered planting robots, have become crucial tools in areas like the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, where controlling desertification is vital.

Contact the writer at dujuan@chinadaily.com.cn