May 17, 2013 — Desertification is an issue of global concern. In China, expanding deserts are taking a heavy toll on the lives and livelihoods of citizens across the world’s most populous country, and the health and environmental impacts of massive sandstorms are a regular concern.

While there is not one single solution to desertification, Kulun Qi, a dry area in northeastern Inner Mongolia, has shown signs of hope that may eventually work as an example to others adversely affected by encroaching deserts around the world.

At the Desert’s Edge documents the trials and tentative successes of a collaborative effort between local residents, governmental initiatives and non-governmental organizations fighting to combat China’s growing deserts by planting vast barriers of trees.

Since this documentary was completed, The Million Tree Project, an initiative of Shanghai Roots & Shoots, planted its millionth tree and pledged to plant another million trees at the edge of the Gobi Desert in China. The organization is well on its way as it recently passed the 200,000 mark.

This video was originally produced for The Asia Society – a global non-profit organization forging closer ties between Asia and the West through arts, education, policy and business outreach.