Shi Guangyin, a 72-year-old party chief of Shilisha village in Dingbian county, Yulin city, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, has dedicated over 40 years of his life to combating desertification. In Yulin, a key area in China's Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, Shi has led his community in planting over 53 million trees across 250,000 mu (17,000 hectares) of barren land, transforming 350,000 mu of land into lush greenery.

Desertification is a significant global ecological challenge that affects human survival and development. China is one of the most severely affected countries. Historically, Yulin has suffered extensive ecological degradation, with vast forests being decimated and barren land merging with the Mu Us Desert. In the 100 years prior to the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Yulin saw six towns, 412 villages, and 2.1 million-mu farmland swallowed by drifting sands.

Shi's efforts have not only helped to combat desertification but have also improved the lives of local people. The increased vegetation has led to improved air quality, reduced soil erosion, and increased water availability. This has resulted in improved agricultural yields and increased incomes for local farmers.

Shi's dedication to environmental protection has earned him numerous awards and accolades. He was named a "National Model Worker" in 2019 and was awarded the "China Environmental Protection Award" in 2020. His story is an inspiration to others who are working to protect the environment.