Dear Friend of the Million Tree Project,
On behalf of Shanghai Roots & Shoots, I would like to thank you all for the generous support you have shown for the Million Tree Project throughout the years. Your commitment to helping raise awareness about climate change and desertification in China is sincerely appreciated.
Your thoughtful donation has meant many wonderful things for the Million Tree Project. To this date, your kind support has helped expand our forest in Kulun Qi, Inner Mongolia to 400,000 trees. This means that our forest will have offset 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions by the time of the trees’ maturity. The planted trees will also serve to anchor and protect fertile topsoil from strong winds as well as function as a natural barrier against sandstorms that are responsible for moving deserts inland. In addition, the act of planting trees serves as a symbol of hope for local residents who seek desperately to return the grasslands back to its original state.
With the growing support for the Million Tree Project, this program has become a pivotal driving force in raising concern about desertification in China. As an example of its influence, I would like to share with you a cover story about desertification entitled, “Building last line of defense against desert,” which was recently published in Beijing-based national newspaper, China Daily and written by reporter, Dan Chinoy. In this article, you will read a detailed overview of desertification in China including the causes of desertification and its impact on the environment, the people and the economy. You will also read about tree planting as the main initiative to reverse the effects of desertification in which the Million Tree Project is featured.
Please find attached the full article on desertification. You may also access the article online at this link:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2010-05/25/content_9887583.htm (English Only)
Please enjoy the article and know that your support has helped make a significant difference in bringing China one step closer to restoring its natural environment. Thank you again for your contribution to the Million Tree Project.
