Thanks to the joint efforts of local authorities and enterprises in Ningxia, the booming wine industry has not only brought immense possibilities for economic development in the province, but also propelled the ecological conservation.
At the eastern foot of the Helan Mountain in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of northwest China, the environment, once plagued by water and soil loss and overexploitation, now has seen a substantial improvement, presenting a splendid landscape.
Covered by rows of grapevines, the area is brimming over with vitality, attracting throngs of visitors to enjoy the picturesque scenery and the full-bodied wine.
Over the past couples of years, a string of comprehensive measures, such as the construction of high-standard vineyard and the planting of shelter forest, has successfully turned the wasteland of more than 25,000 hectares into a green oasis.
"We have built vineyards and planted more than 30,000 trees, so the sight is filled with green. As a result, Many birds have also settled down in the waters here. So I feel very good every day," said Liu Xi, a staff member of a winery.
"Studies have shown that the carbon storage per hectare of vineyards here is about 50 tons, which has significant ecological value and ecological functions," said Wen Xuehui, deputy director at the management committee of the Wine Industrial Park at the Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain in Ningxia.
In addition to the booming wine industry, local vineyards have also pooled their strengths and taken a slew of measures to conduct ecological protection, realizing the coordinated development of economy and ecology.
A survey by the College of Enology, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, shows that 139 species of higher plants had been found and 95 species of insects collected from one of the vineyards alone.
"The biological diversity has been improved. Some wild animals like snow leopard that once disappeared in the eastern foot of the Helan Mountain are now settling down here again," said Wen.
Industrial development and ecological environment improvement have together put the wine-producing region under the global spotlight, drawing customers from all over the world to build partnership with local enterprises.
Local authorities in Ningxia have vowed greater efforts to make the business environment even better so as to deepen cooperation with their partners.
"On the one hand, we have intensified the promotion of red wine produced in Ningxia and improved its brand awareness and reputation by holding wine culture and tourism expo. On the other hand, we've identified the unique characteristics and international sales positioning of our wine, and formulated targeted investment policies to attract internationally renowned wine producers, promoters and dealers to Ningxia to start a business and share the development dividend," said Wu Yujun, head of the Foreign Investment Office under the Department of Commerce of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
China's Ningxia strikes balance between Wine industry development and ecological conservation
Residents at a temporary shelter in South Korea are coming to terms with the shock of losing their homes in the worst wildfires in the country's history, with the deadly blazes which have been burning since late last month forcing tens of thousands of people to be evacuated.
The devastating fires -- which first erupted back on March 21 -- have claimed the lives of at least 30 people and injured dozens of others, while more than 3,500 houses and 30 national heritage sites have been damaged.
The flames have so far spread across more than 48,000 hectares of land, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.
Shell-shocked local people have been sharing the horrifying stories of how they became overwhelmed by the fast-spreading flames and had to rush from their homes.
Jo Soo-gap, a resident of the Yeongdeok County in the severely affected North Gyeongsang Province, told the China Global Television Network (CGTN) of the moment the flames approached.
"We didn't think it would come all the way to our area. That evening, while we were at home, the wind picked up. It felt stronger than a typhoon. I thought it was getting dangerous, so l was preparing to leave with my wife. Then suddenly a neighbor shouted, 'The fire's coming! Get out now!' So we just got in the car and drove toward Pohang,” he recalled.
"When we finally returned at dawn, we found our house had completely burned down and collapsed. Other homes, even if they were mostly destroyed, still had some parts of the frame left. But ours was a two-story villa-style home, and it had completely caved in – flattened right down to its foundation. There was nothing for us left to retrieve,” lamented Jo.
He expressed the hope that the government would help him and his family, as well as the many others affected, to rebuild their homes, while issuing a clear warning to others about the dangers posed by wildfires.
"We hope recovery efforts can proceed quickly, and that the government or local authorities can provide permanent housing so we can rebuild our lives. Fire prevention is no small matter, people should never carry any flammable objects when going into the mountains or fields. I want to emphasize this very clearly," he said.
Meanwhile, Kim Woo-seok, chairman of the Pohang Medical Association, explained how medics are handling the various problems brought by the wildfires, with a particular focus being placed on the welfare of those suffering from chronic diseases.
"The most pressing concern for us is people with chronic illnesses, such as those with high blood pressure or diabetes who need to constantly take their medication. Some patients did not have time to grab their medicines during the evacuation, and the drug withdrawal can cause sudden spikes in their blood pressure or blood sugar levels. So it's crucial that we monitor and stabilize their conditions as quickly as possible,” he said.
Kim stressed that the psychological trauma brought by the wildfires is the most pressing issue, as people slowly come to terms with the significant losses they have suffered.
"However, the biggest emotional shock comes from losing one's home or seeing a loved one fall ill. Those situations can cause severe emotional trauma. People can develop symptoms like panic attacks or depression as a result. These issues require proper counseling and treatment, as the emotional stress can also cause physical symptoms, such as back pain or joint pain. Those are the common cases we see," he said.
Shell-shocked South Korean evacuees lament loss of homes in deadly wildfires
