Over the past five years, Awati County in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has undergone a remarkable ecological transformation, with its once-arid Aximan area changing into a lush wetland teeming with waterfowl and greenery.
Situated at the junction of the Aksu River alluvial fan and the Taklimakan Desert, once known as the "sea of death", Aximan had long suffered from severe desertification.
As a vital part of the headwater region of the Tarim River, China's longest inland river, the area plays a crucial role in the region's ecology.
In 2020, authorities in Xinjiang launched a major conservation and restoration initiative to rehabilitate the ecosystem.
Through a comprehensive strategy featuring urban wastewater recycling, widespread use of drip irrigation, and large-scale forest planting, about 52,500 hectares of land have been rehabilitated with forest coverage surging tenfold from just 4.5 percent to 45 percent.
Today, Aximan has evolved into a thriving wetland ecosystem that is home to abundant vegetation and clear waters, attracting flocks of migratory birds and providing habitat for over 200 wild animal species.
Ecological conservation project turns barren desert into lush wetland in Xinjiang
