Blankets made from coconut shells are being used for grassland restoration in South West China’s Sichuan. Grass is successfully sprouting from the ground surface covered by blankets made from coconut shells at the area of the abandoned mines in Ruoergai County of Aba Prefecture, where bedrocks were exposed before.
These blankets made from coconut shells have compact structure and strong corrosion resistance. They can effectively inhibit soil erosion, and have excellent slope protection effect. In addition, they are biodegradable, decomposing into organic fertilizer after “completing their mission”.
Due to stone mining in the past, bare bedrocks were left on the grassland, making it very difficult to restore vegetation and seriously affecting the ecological environment in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. The utilization of blankets made from coconut shells provides a new method for grassland restoration.
Cover photo shows grass sprouting from the surface covered by blankets made from coconut shells in Gaerma Village of Tangke Town in Ruoergai County, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Aug. 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)
The above combo photo shows an area before restoration (above, taken on March 8, 2023) and after restoration (below, photo taken by Xinhua photographer Wang Xi on Aug. 23, 2023) in Gaerma Village of Tangke Town in Ruoergai County, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. (Xinhua)
A worker lays a blanket made from coconut shells on a slope at an abandoned mine restoration site in Duoma Village, Dazhasi Town in Ruoergai County, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Aug. 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)
Workers lay blankets made from coconut shells on a slope at an abandoned mine restoration site in Duoma Village, Dazhasi Town in Ruoergai County, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Aug. 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)
This photo shows grass sprouting from the surface covered by blankets made from coconut shells in Duoma Village, Dazhasi Town in Ruoergai County, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Aug. 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)
This aerial photo shows workers laying blankets made from coconut shells on a slope at an abandoned mine restoration site in Duoma Village, Dazhasi Town in Ruoergai County, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Aug. 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)
This aerial photo shows workers laying blankets made from coconut shells on a slope at an abandoned mine restoration site in Duoma Village, Dazhasi Town in Ruoergai County, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Aug. 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)
This photo shows an area after restoration in Gaerma Village of Tangke Town in Ruoergai County, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Aug. 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Yijie)
Workers lay blankets made from coconut shells on a slope at an abandoned mine restoration site in Duoma Village, Dazhasi Town in Ruoergai County, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Aug. 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Yijie)
Source: People’s Daily Online, September 13, 2023.