[ECO]Yi Jiefang Honors Late Son by Transforming Alxa Desert

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After losing her son, 67-year-old Yi Jiefang fulfills his dream by planting over 2 million trees in China’s Alxa Desert.

Over the past 20 years, 67-year-old Yi Jiefang has dedicated her life to planting more than 2 million trees in the

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in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, one of the country’s most challenging areas in the fight against desertification. Driven by a deep personal loss and a promise to her son, Yi’s mission is not only restoring the land but also setting an example of resilience and commitment amid a harsh environment and the immense challenges of reforestation.

Yi’s journey began in 2000, following the sudden death of her son, Yang Ruizhe, who died in a car accident while studying in Japan. Before his passing, Yang had been inspired by news reports on the encroaching desertification in northern China, expressing his desire to return home after graduation to plant trees and build a forest. 

To honor her son’s dream, Yi Jiefang and her husband, Yang Antai, made significant financial choices. They sold their properties in Shanghai, using the proceeds along with the insurance settlement from their son’s accident, to establish Green Life, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reforestation in the Alxa region.

Yi Jiefang’s mission has expanded significantly since then. Green Life has already achieved the planting of more than 2 million trees, with a broader goal of covering 8.7 square kilometers with native forestation to curb desertification’s advance. The organization’s work plays a vital role in a region where shifting sands and extreme weather degrade soil quality, threaten biodiversity, and impact local communities. 

Alxa, where Yi Jiefang has concentrated her efforts, faces some of the worst effects of desertification in China due to its arid climate, frequent sandstorms, and minimal rainfall, making it an exceptionally difficult area for successful reforestation.

Personal, physical, and financial challenges mark Yi Jiefang’s work in the desert. Despite her age, she oversees Green Life’s operations and often visits the project sites in Alxa, a demanding journey that requires her to endure both the physical strain of travel and the exhaustion of working in an unforgiving environment. 

Water scarcity in the Alxa Desert poses one of the most difficult hurdles, as the young trees require irrigation to survive in the early stages. Yi Jiefang and her team have employed water conservation techniques to ensure each tree has the best chance at growth, but these methods come with high costs and logistical difficulties.

The climate itself presents additional risks. Alxa’s desert temperatures swing from extreme heat in the day to chilling cold at night, creating conditions that require careful planning and adaptation. Furthermore, strong winds and frequent sandstorms threaten to destroy newly planted trees. Yi’s commitment has led her to continually find solutions to keep the project viable despite these obstacles. “This work isn’t easy, especially in such a tough environment,” Yi has shared. “But I keep going because my son wanted a forest, and I want to bring his dream to life.”

Beyond reforesting, Yi’s efforts have fostered a therapeutic community. Green Life’s tree-planting events bring together families who have also experienced the loss of a child. “I’ve talked and cried with many families into the night,” she explained. “Afterward, I take them with me to plant trees.” For these families, the physical act of planting trees offers a meaningful way to channel grief and experience renewal, helping them turn pain into positive action. “It’s a way to help those families through their grief and to turn their feelings from negative to positive,” Yi noted. The events have become a place of shared healing, where families feel understood and part of a supportive network.

To support her mission, Yi Jiefang has made further personal sacrifices. At her age, the physical demands of overseeing such a large-scale reforestation effort are considerable, yet her sense of duty keeps her going. Alongside the physical and emotional commitment, the financial demands are constant, as Green Life relies on donations and careful resource management to maintain its progress. With support from her husband and a small team, Yi Jiefang has been able to overcome these challenges and achieve steady progress in the desert, though the obstacles remain substantial.

Yi’s organization has drawn attention for its environmental impact. The trees Green Life has planted help reduce

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, retain moisture, and cool the ground, stabilizing a region where unchecked desertification would otherwise destroy ecosystems and agricultural potential. Moreover, Green Life’s work contributes to biodiversity, providing habitats for local

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Yi’s dedication has also inspired broader support. Desertification threatens large portions of northern China, impacting agriculture and the health of rural communities. Recognizing this, local governments and other nonprofits have encouraged citizen involvement in reforestation, with Green Life serving as a model of effective, community-driven environmental intervention.

Yi Jiefang remains steadfast in her resolve to make her son’s vision a reality. For her, planting trees is not just about reforestation; it’s a personal mission and a legacy that she believes will outlast her. “We can’t take a penny with us when we leave this world. But if we use money to plant trees, it stays in the world forever,” she said. Her work shows how loss can be transformed into resilience, creating positive change for the environment and the lives of others.

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