Yan Ruirui, 47, has been at the station since 2008. The station's deputy director said that the grassland is not just an ecological barrier in the north, but rather an integral part of herders' livelihoods.
"The herders and their children were warm and hospitable. They brought me milk tea the moment I arrived. The nomadic life is pure, and I saw a quiet longing in their children's eyes when they met outsiders.
"Their warmth and kindness moved me. Especially when I saw a little kid running after sheep under the sun, I realized that the grassland isn't just data. It's their home, and their life. If the grassland degrades, they lose everything. That's why I care about grassland protection, not just for ecology, but for these people," said Yan, reflecting on past interactions with herders and their families.
Yan and the station's team of researchers have been promoting grassland restoration techniques since 2016.
The demonstration area was divided into several test plots. Some plots use root pruning and aeration to loosen the soil, others use organic fertilizers, some plots use microbial fertilizers, and others use a combination of all three. After years of research, the results have been dramatic, Yan said.
Across more than 6,667 hectares of demonstration plots, herbage yield on restored land has increased by up to sixfold compared to untreated areas, she said.
