Loess Plateau benefits from green drive

TAIYUAN, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Niu Hentai remembers the Loess Plateau as dismal, dusty and dry seven years ago.

"Here there were barren hills, but see how it is flourishing now!" Niu said of the hills now dotted with plants and the land to the west checkered with brown poplars and lush forest.

Born in Dacaoping Village, Shanxi Province, Niu left his hometown to run a transportation business in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region because the land was good for nothing but grazing in his hometown, which is located at an altitude of 2,100 meters and was once home to a record-high 10,000 sheep.

But overgrazing and deforestation eventually stripped away vegetation in the area, eroding the soil and allowing the desert to encroach upon the Loess Highlands, where Dacaoping Village is located.

"Overnight, people could not open their doors because of the sand outside," said Niu, recalling the fierce sandstorms.

Niu chose to return home to plant trees in 2005, hoping to help restore the damaged environment that was jeopardizing grazing and to take advantage of a slew of preferential measures issued by the local government.