From July 31 to August 4, 2019, a desert planting camp for volunteers was held in Dingbian County, Shaanxi's northern Yulin.
According to Shaanxi Christian Council (CC), this was the first social service program co-launched by Shaanxi CC & Xi'an Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). More than 100 young volunteers took part in it.
As a follow up to the tree planting camp on discussing global warming that was carried out by Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong and Xi'an YMCA in the Maowusu Desert (Ordos Desert) in 2009, this camp initiative was to establish an evergreen forest covering 1,000 mu (164.7 acres) in a local desert and a mountainous area.
As a permanent greening base that exercises desertification control, the forest is administered by Xi'an YMCA. About 108 Mongolian Scotch pines and Chinese red pines at the cost of over 200,000 yuan had already been planted during the annual desert planting campaigns and camps hosted by the organization over the past decade.
One of the purposes of the camp was to raise environmental awareness of young volunteers. It also served as a platform for volunteers to enhance communication among themselves and build friendships.
A 32-kilometer (19.8 miles) walk across the local Tengger Desert, the fourth largest desert in China, was also conducted to challenge their ability to stay resilient and adaptable, cultivate teamwork spirit and leadership. At the end, over 300 Mongolian Scotch pine saplings covering more than 30 mu (4.9 acres) of sandy soil were planted.
