China battles desert expansion with innovative methods

Residents and workers in northern and western China are working to stop expanding deserts by using techniques such as “straw checkerboards.” These methods aim to slow the movement of sand and improve the land’s ability to support plant life.

For decades, people in these regions have confronted the problem of desertification. The “straw checkerboards” represent one approach to reclaiming land overtaken by deserts and restoring its fertility.