Life on The Loess Plateau

The Loess Plateau in China is one of the earliest agricultural regions, boasting fertile soil that supported early farmers. However, years of overgrazing, subsistence agriculture, and deforestation have led to its degradation. Once a vital food source for one-quarter of China, it has transformed into a barren landscape riddled with dust. Continuous rain has eroded the land, washing away vital soil into the Yellow River, which has been aptly named 'China’s Sorrow' due to the devastating floods caused by sediment runoff.

In the 1990s, agricultural economist Juergen Voegele and the World Bank were taken aback by the desolation they encountered. They realized they faced an enormous challenge.

For two years, they collaborated with local farmers and analyzed the soil, but a solution eluded them. Generations of exploitation had left the soil almost devoid of organic matter, a crucial component for fertility. Without this intricate ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, and microorganisms, life on Earth would be impossible. Decomposers in the soil play a critical role by breaking down organic waste, which is essential for plant life.

Though often overlooked, soil is a complex world. Beneath our feet lies an extensive network of mycelium, the fungal structure responsible for decomposition. Primary decomposers like oyster and shiitake mushrooms initiate the breakdown of organic matter, while secondary decomposers, such as button mushrooms, complete the process.

However, reintroducing species into the soil requires careful consideration. Soil organisms are highly selective about their habitats. Nematodes, a type of roundworm, are incredibly numerous, and their presence is vital for soil health, aiding in decomposition and nitrogen mineralization. Without this diverse community, the land would become inhospitable, preventing seed germination and leading to ecosystem collapse.

To address the deterioration, the team engaged in additional studies, ultimately devising a comprehensive plan. They partitioned the land for both economic and ecological purposes, halting open-grazing practices to allow remaining vegetation to stabilize the land. Following the devastating floods of 1998, tree harvesting was prohibited.

On degraded lands deemed unsuitable for farming, they planted 270,000 hectares of trees and shrubs, enhancing soil stability, particularly in the arid north. They chose nitrogen-fixing species like black locust and Chinese pine to promote ecological recovery.

Though land ownership was not feasible in communist China, the team secured long-term leases, fostering a sense of responsibility among local residents. Initially hesitant, the community began to engage with the project, constructing over 72,000 hectares of terracing that doubled grain yields compared to sloped lands. These new terraces improved road access and conserved water, reducing erosion.

Numerous sediment control dams were constructed to prevent soil washing into gullies. Over the years, these gullies filled in, creating arable land for wheat and cash crops.

Revitalizing nearly 16,000 square kilometers came at a cost, with $500 million allocated for restoration efforts. However, the results have been remarkable. Since 2000, forest cover has increased by over 7.5%, and more than 90% of the plateau has seen enhanced carbon capture, transitioning the region from a carbon source to a carbon sink. Additionally, soil erosion has decreased by 57 million tons per year.

The extensive planting of orchards has established the region as a leading apple producer, supplying markets both domestically and internationally. Poverty rates have plummeted, with employment rising to 87%. Agricultural production value surged to Yuan 577 million in 2001, nearly seven times higher than in 1993. School enrollment and healthcare access have also improved.

As Voegele observes, “Even after centuries of devastation, the seeds remained in the ground, and revitalization occurred rapidly.” The seeds of hope are also present in the minds of the farmers who embraced this vision. The region is now flourishing—a testament to development and ecological restoration.

Although the project concluded in 2001, initiatives like the 'Grain for Green' program continue to expand its impact, purchasing erosion-prone farmland and converting it back to natural vegetation. This program has engaged 124 million people and, by 2010, had restored 32 million hectares of land to wilderness. The scale of this transformation is only truly visible from space, and other nations are taking note.

Erosion in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, the government has invested $1.2 billion annually to restore degraded landscapes. Like China, Ethiopia has a rich agricultural heritage dating back to the Axumite Empire, contemporaneous with ancient Rome. However, population pressures, steep slope farming, extensive deforestation, and overgrazing have inflicted severe ecological harm.

The Ethiopian Highlands, known as 'the Roof of Africa', are home to the Blue Nile, which contributes significantly to the Nile's overall flow. However, this river often runs dark with sediment, indicative of the erosion it suffers.

Each year, 1.5 million tons of topsoil are lost from the highlands, with croplands accounting for 69% of this loss. By 1990, severe erosion resulted in the loss of 1 million tons of cereal production, enough to feed over 4 million people, threatening to plunge them back into famine.

Fortunately, changes are underway. Over the past three decades, the Ethiopian government has implemented innovative soil and water conservation techniques. The construction of soil bunds, combined with trenches and trees, allows water to infiltrate the ground and mitigates soil erosion. Similar to efforts in the Loess Plateau, stone dams have been built to slow water flow, promoting groundwater retention even during droughts.

Since 1991, soil and water conservation efforts have been implemented on 960,000 hectares, with an additional 1.2 million hectares closed off to allow natural vegetation to regenerate. Soil loss has been reduced by up to 90%, significantly improving carbon capture.

The erosion of soil has mirrored the erosion of hope, as many have sought better opportunities elsewhere. However, as rural areas revive, many are returning home.

Embracing their success, the Ethiopian government has launched the 'Climate-Resilient Green Economy' initiative, aiming to restore one-sixth of the country’s land by 2030. This ambitious goal will require overcoming bureaucratic hurdles, but as the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Peter Andrews: An Australian Legend

Australia has faced the Gilgamesh syndrome and ecological forgetfulness more acutely than many regions. Unlike China or Ethiopia, Australia lacks a long agricultural history, aside from some traditional fire management practices. A century of industrialized agriculture has dramatically altered the landscape. At Mulloon Creek, a farm close to Canberra, urgent repairs were necessary.

Tony Coote, who acquired the property in the late 1960s, was inspired after watching a documentary on Peter Andrews, an innovative farmer. This marked the beginning of a transformative partnership that would revitalize Mulloon Creek and usher in an agricultural revolution.

Andrews developed a method called 'natural sequence farming', aimed at restoring upland valleys and creeks. By constructing leaky weirs from rocks and fallen trees, they created a network of ponds and wetlands to hydrate the area and combat erosion. The introduction of blackberry canes was intended to enrich the soil’s fertility.

The revival of the soil was remarkable; as Peter Hazell from The Mulloon Institute noted, it became teeming with life—fungi, bacteria, and earthworms actively processing organic material. Despite ongoing drought conditions, the creek continued to flow, drawing attention from Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who hailed Andrews as a visionary.

Sadly, Tony Coote passed away in 2018, but his legacy endures. Martin Royds, a cattle producer, has adopted the leaky weir principles, allowing 20,000 liters of water to flow daily from the system even during the worst droughts. During severe bushfires, helicopters were able to refill from the weir every forty seconds.

Andrews’ work has garnered recognition from the UN, which designated Mulloon Creek as one of five sustainable sites globally. As Andrews states, “All we’ve done is replicate what was once a natural process in Australia’s landscape.” Rather than battling nature, visionaries like Andrews have embraced it, leading us toward sustainable practices that can green our world.