Loess Plateau benefits from green drive (3)

Since 2000, an estimated 1 billion yuan has been put toward planting 22,000 hectares of forest.

Wang said about one-third of the investment was allocated by the provincial or city governments, one-third by the district government and one-third by enterprises, especially coal mine companies.

Shuozhou's forest coverage has climbed to 35 percent in 2012 from 12.4 percent in 2000, with 90 percent of the land that suffered from desertification being brought under control.

The city's ambitious plan includes expanding the green carpet by 2 percent annually.

Niu has planted over 1.2 million trees to date.

"I find relaxation just by looking at the lush forest," Niu said, adding that his fledgling forest will be fully grown in two or three years.