China Stops the Desert with Straw: The Straw Checkerboard in the Tengger Desert | Engineering / Sand

Описание: The Tengger Desert is one of the most active deserts in China, where sand is constantly moving under the influence of wind.
To stop the movement of dunes, a simple but highly effective engineering method is used — the straw checkerboard method.

Straw is pressed into the sand in squares of about 1×1 meter.
This reduces wind speed near the surface, stabilizes the sand, retains moisture, and creates conditions for future vegetation.

After the surface is stabilized, drought-resistant desert shrubs are planted inside the squares. Over time, their roots take over the role of a natural anchor.

This method is widely used in China to combat desertification, stabilize shifting sands, and restore degraded land.
It is a clear example of how a low-tech engineering solution can effectively address a massive natural problem — without concrete, without complex machinery, and without any “magic”.

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