How have terracing and afforestation helped conserve Shanxi’s soil and water?

Since 1949, Shanxi province has implemented extensive soil and water conservation efforts to combat widespread erosion across its hilly terrain and the Loess Plateau.41

Terracing and afforestation have been central to these conservation strategies:

• Terracing: By constructing graduated terraces into slopes, farmers create flat ridges of earth that effectively hold back water and reduce runoff. This method minimizes the washing away of topsoil during the rainy season and maximizes the amount of arable land available for cultivation.234
• Afforestation: Planting trees and sowing grass on denuded land helps stabilize the soil structure, which is often compromised by sparse vegetation and heavy summer rains. These efforts protect slopes and newly terraced fields from the erosive forces of wind and water, helping to prevent the formation of deep gullies and reducing the silt load carried into the Huang He (Yellow River).145

These measures, alongside other initiatives like digging irrigation canals and land reclamation, have been vital in improving agricultural stability in a region historically vulnerable to soil loss.4