Ningxia shared its expertise in global desertification control at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh from Dec 2 to 13, 2024.

At the conference, Ningxia showcased its achievements in desertification control at a side event through exhibits, photographs, and presentations.

"After sharing Ningxia's experiences at the event, foreign experts highly praised our methods, and many expressed interest in participating in our international training courses on desertification control," said Huang Wei, a representative from the Ningxia Forestry and Grassland Bureau. 

"Ningxia International Knowledge Management Center for Desertification Control has become a valuable platform for sharing practices, promoting research, and building capacity. It is a true model of South-South cooperation," said Johns Kharika, director of Innovation at the UNCCD Secretariat.

Kariuki highlighted Ningxia's successes in transforming desert landscapes into sustainable industries, such as goji berry cultivation and solar energy integration, as a replicable model for other regions facing similar challenges.

Since February 2019, when Ningxia Forestry and Grassland Bureau signed a cooperation memorandum with the UNCCD Secretariat, both parties have built an extensive online international exchange platform.

Both parties have organized five international training courses on desertification control technologies and practices, which have trained 154 participants from 54 countries and over 3,500 online learners.

They have also assisted 108 international individuals from 27 countries, regions, and international organizations in learning about Ningxia's desertification control experiences.