Korchin Desert Afforestation in China: The Joyful Forest Project

Turning brown desert into green, life-supporting earth

About 500 kilometers northeast of Beijing, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China, lies the Korchin Desert. This barren land was until 100 years ago a lush, fertile area of forests and grasslands, but over-grazing have brought on rapid desertification. Honda has set out to help solve this problem. The Joyful Forest Project seeks to cultivate forests in the Korchin Desert to help people and nature coexist harmoniously, with the ultimate aim of re-establishing habitable areas complete with woodlands and cultivated fields. Honda is proactively engaged in operational planning and financial support since 2000. Honda people are also directly involved: groups of current and retired associates and their families volunteer to work alongside members of the NGO Desert Planting Volunteer Association and members of the local community planting trees. The project takes in only a very small part of the 5 million hectares of the Korchin Desert, but it is helping to stimulate new interest in re-greening the desert. It is also providing crucial momentum to these principally local initiatives, which may spawn similar projects. The joy of bringing the land back to life is definitely spreading.