This year rather than take a holiday where you play in the sand, why not take a vacation where you work in the sand? Rather than laying on a beach you could be contributing to the world’s environment and work to reverse desertification in China’s 7th largest desert. Intrigued?
Voluntourism is a well established practice where people dedicate their vacation to doing something good. Habitat for Humanity does a great job of enlisting volunteers to help their projects at home and abroad. And while the Kubuqi Desert has no formal voluntourism program it is a fascinating place to visit and you can do a lot of good by understanding how the area has changed.
First off where the heck is the Kubuqi Desert?
Located in Inner Mongolia, the Kubuqi Desert covers an area of over 18,000 square kilometers. 30 years ago over grazing by livestock, poor planting practices and climate change saw the desert rapidly expanding. This created poverty for local farmers and herdsmen as well as the sandstorms that swept over Beijing. But today this trend has been reversed.
What happened?
Elion Resources Group has been working with locals for the last 30 years to plant trees and crops, change how livestock is raised and opened up eco-tourism. They have greened an astounding 6,000 square kilometers and in the process lifted the local economy and over 1000,00 people out of poverty.
Elion has invested over 3 billion RMB for ecosystem restoration, and 38 billion RMB for the development of desert eco-industries. This has created a virtuous eco-economic system worth hundreds of billions of RMB.
How can you help?
Today the Kubuqi Model is a success story which can be adapted to many regions around the world. According to the United Nations there are 36 million square kilometers of desertified and degraded land in the world, covering about 1/4 of the total land area of the earth. Over 167 countries, including those along the “Belt and Road”, are afflicted by desertification, which causes an annual loss of around $40 to $50 billion USD. At present, desertification is increasing at an annual rate of 50,000-70,000 square kilometers. But there is a solution.
You can play a role by visiting. On Earth Day thousands of volunteers flock there to plant trees, but year round there’s a booming eco-tourism industry. The revenue helps support local entrepreneurs and communities. Plus you can bring ideas and insight home with you which can be translated to other communities around the world.
And you can do it in style?
Elion Resources Group has built a luxury resort in the middle of the Kubuqi Desert. The Seven Star Lake Hotel rises like an oasis with a palatial lobby, plush rooms and great Food & Beverage offerings. This proves that you can do good without sacrificing too much. And while you’re there there’s lots to see and do.
So how about it? Are you ready to commit your vacation to doing something for the planet? We’re pretty sure the next generation will thank you.
Written on Special Assignment by Susan Bennett
Susan Bennett is a well respected New York-based journalist known for her keen on camera reporting and deep research. Originally a finance reporter, recently she has focused on travel and tourism.
