Nanning, May 29 (Xinhua, Changqin) -- The reporter learned from the seminar on ecological restoration techniques for stone desertification held in Nanning, Guangxi: Since 2001, the Institute of Karst Geology of China Geological Survey has organized and implemented more than 120 geological survey projects and national and provincial-level science and technology projects in the southwest karst stone desertification area, with a total investment of about 200 million yuan, and achieved results in basic theory, technology research and development, and industrial demonstration for ecological restoration of stone desertification.

The project divided the southwest karst area into eight stone desertification management type zones, clarified 451 stone desertification counties, and proposed site-specific countermeasures for stone desertification comprehensive management to each zone.

After more than ten years, Guangxi Pingguo County fruiting demonstration area has formed a special ecological industry with dragon fruit planting as the main feature. The "fruiting model" and related technologies have been promoted in more than 300 counties in the southwest with 400,000 square kilometers of karst area, which has achieved good ecological, economic and social benefits. Since the implementation of comprehensive management, the vegetation cover of the fruiting demonstration area has increased by 60%, the soil erosion rate has decreased by 80%, and the land utilization rate has increased by 60%. It has led to the treatment of rock desertification in southwest China for 20,000 square kilometers, solved the drinking water difficulties of 15 million people, and guided more than 30 counties to implement land remediation for 5 million mu.