Sea buckthorn generates environmental, economic benefits in Qingyang, NW China's Gansu

沙棘在中国西北甘肃庆阳助力环境保护与经济效益

This summer, sea buckthorn puree from Huachi county, Qingyang city, in northwest China's Gansu Province was transported thousands of kilometers to Tianjin Port for export. The shipment marked the first time Gansu Province has exported sea buckthorn products internationally.

今年夏天，来自中国西北部甘肃省庆阳市华池县的沙棘原浆被运往数千公里外的天津港出口。这是甘肃省首次向国际市场出口沙棘产品。

On the hillside of Chengguan village in Rouyuan town, Huachi county, Zhang Pengfei skillfully trims waist-high sea buckthorn trees. As head of a seedling farmers' cooperative, he has worked with sea buckthorn there for 16 years.

在华池县柔源镇城关村的山坡上，张鹏飞熟练地修剪着齐腰高的沙棘树。作为一家种苗农民合作社的负责人，他在当地和沙棘打交道已经有16年了。

Photo shows sea buckthorn fruits produced in Huachi county, Qingyang city, northwest China's Gansu Province. (Photo/Huang Xiao)

图为中国西北部甘肃省庆阳市华池县生产的沙棘果。（图/黄晓）

Huachi county, located on the edge of the Ziwuling forest area, has cultivated sea buckthorn cultivation. Over nearly two decades, the local government has promoted the industry in line with local conditions. The county's sea buckthorn forests now cover more than 470,000 mu (about 31,333 hectares).

地处子午岭林区边缘的华池县，沙棘种植已经蔚然成风。近二十年来，当地政府因地制宜推动产业发展。全县沙棘林现已覆盖47万余亩（约31333公顷）。

"Sea buckthorn trees aren't picky about soil or climate, but the challenge is removing the husk without damaging the seed inside. It took us a long time to figure out," Zhang said.

“沙棘树对土壤或气候并不挑剔，但真正的挑战在于，要在不损坏内里树种的情况下去除外壳。我们花了很长时间才克服这一问题。”张鹏飞说。

Each spring, Zhang soaks the seeds in water at 60 degrees Celsius for 24 hours, dries them, and gently rubs off the husk by hand. The cooperative now produces 5 million seedlings a year using this method.

每年春天，张鹏飞都会将沙棘树种在60摄氏度的水中浸泡24小时，晾干水分，再用手轻轻捋去外壳。如今合作社采用这种方法，每年生产500万株苗木。

Huachi county produces more than 15 million sea buckthorn seedlings annually from over 150 mu of nurseries, supplying multiple provinces across China.

华池县150多亩苗圃每年生产1500多万株沙棘苗，供应着中国多个省份。

Photo shows a sea buckthorn forest in Qingyang city, northwest China's Gansu Province. (Photo/Huang Xiao)

图为中国西北部甘肃省庆阳市的沙棘林。（图/黄晓）

Senior engineer Liang Fan from Huachi county's bureau of natural resources leads a team in a valley in Rouyuan town, explaining how sea buckthorn grows in tea plantations.

来自华池县自然资源局的高级工程师梁帆,带领团队在柔远镇的一处山谷里展开工作。他正向我们讲解如何种植茶用沙棘。

"In tea plantations, sea buckthorn trees are planted more densely, grow shorter, and have a different male-to-female balance than in orchards," Liang noted.

“若是种植茶用沙棘时，沙棘树会种植得更密，生长得更矮，而且树种的雌雄比例也与果用沙棘有所不同，”梁帆指出。

The valley contains 500 mu of sea buckthorn tea plantations, with nearby hillsides hosting another 500 mu of orchards. An additional 9,000 mu of sea buckthorn forest extends across the surrounding area.

山谷中种植有500亩茶用沙棘，附近的山坡上还有500亩果用沙棘。另外，还有9000亩面积沙棘林横跨周边地区。

Huachi county sits at the northern edge of Qingyang, where the Loess Plateau meets the Mu Us Desert, forming a front line against northern sandstorms.

华池县地处庆阳北缘，黄土高原与毛乌素沙漠在此处交汇，形成抵御北方沙尘暴的第一道防线。

Photo shows sea buckthorn drinks produced by a company in Huachi county, Qingyang city, northwest China's Gansu Province. (Photo/Lei Caili)

图为甘肃省庆阳市华池县一家公司生产的沙棘饮料。（图/雷彩丽）

Sea buckthorn thrives in Huachi's harsh environment, withstanding cold, drought and sand. The hardy plant grows on mountain slopes, sandy soils and soft sandstone, even with limited rainfall.

沙棘在华池县恶劣的环境中茁壮成长，对抗着严寒、干旱与风沙。尽管降雨量有限，这种耐寒的植物仍在山体坡面、沙质土壤和质地松软的砂岩上扎根。

Farmers cultivate sea buckthorn for tea on sheltered, sun-facing terraces for easier cultivation and harvesting. Growers choose large-fruited varieties with nutrient-rich, deep-green leaves that villagers harvest from spring through autumn for tea production. Flat areas with deeper soil and irrigation support are used for orchard cultivation instead.

农民在有遮蔽、向阳光的梯田上培育茶用沙棘，以便种植和收获。种植者选用村民们春秋季间常常采收、用于茶业生产的大果品种，其营养丰富、叶色深绿。而土壤深厚，并有灌溉系统支持的平坦地区则被用于种植果用沙棘。

Huachi county balances environmental protection with commercial cultivation as sea buckthorn orchards and tea plantations expand alongside ecological plantings.

通过共同扩大以茶、果用以及生态效益为目的的沙棘种植规模，华池县维持着经济效益与环境保护间的平衡。

Every September and October, Xian Cuili and her fellow villagers in Chengguan village enter their busiest season as sea buckthorn berries ripen for harvest.

每年九十月份，随着沙棘果成熟待收，冼翠丽和城关村的老乡们进入了最忙碌的季节。

A villager holds a basket of freshly picked sea buckthorn fruits in Huachi county, Qingyang city, northwest China's Gansu Province. (Photo/Tian Wei)

在中国西北部的甘肃省庆阳市华池县，一名村民拿着一篮子新鲜采摘的沙棘果。（图/田伟）

Xian works with sea buckthorn throughout the year under a government-supported program where local forestry departments and enterprises manage cultivation. Villagers harvest berries during peak season, collect leaves for tea in three seasons, and plant new forests in spring and autumn. These activities generate average annual incomes exceeding 9,000 yuan (about $1,260) per villager.

在当地林业部门和企业对种植的管理协助、以及政府项目的支持下，冼翠丽全年都在围绕沙棘工作。村民们在旺季采收沙棘果，其余三季则采沙棘茶叶，春秋两季种植新林。这些活动为每个村民带来的平均年收入超过9000元人民币（约合1260美元）。

On the production line of a biotechnology company, the fragrance of sea buckthorn tea fills the air as workers wash and dry freshly picked leaves before withering, rolling, roasting and scenting them.

在一家生物科技公司的生产线上，空气中弥漫着沙棘茶的香味。工人们正在清洗并干燥新鲜采摘的茶叶，然后进行杀青、翻动、烘烤和增香等工序。

The company, among Huachi county's first sea buckthorn processors, sources branches from local and regional farms. Over more than a decade, it developed products ranging from raw materials to puree and beverages for nationwide distribution, creating a crucial income source for local farmers.

该公司是华池县首批沙棘加工商之一，其分支企业从当地和周边农场采购原料。十多年来，它开发了从原材料到果泥和饮料等一系列产品，并在全国范围内分销，为当地农民创造了重要的收入来源。

Liang Fan (left) shows a villager how to pick sea buckthorn leaves in Huachi county, Qingyang city, northwest China's Gansu Province. (People's Daily Overseas Edition/Song Chaojun)

在中国西北部甘肃省庆阳市华池县，梁凡（左）向一位村民展示如何采摘沙棘叶。（人民日报海外版/宋朝军）

Today, the company runs nine production lines for processing fruit, tea, puree and seed oil. In 2024, it purchased about 5,000 tonnes of sea buckthorn, launched more than 20 products and achieved a total output value of over 40 million yuan.

如今，该公司运营着九条加工果品、茶叶、果泥和沙棘种籽油的生产线。2024年，该企业采购沙棘约5000吨，推出产品20余款，实现总产值超4000万元。

Local villagers benefit directly from the company's expansion through supply contracts and employment. The nine production lines source all fruit and leaves from local farmers, while over 100 villagers work at the factory.

当地村民通过供货合同和垂直就业等形式直接从公司业务的发展扩张中直接获利、同步受益。九条生产线均向当地农民处采购所有果品和茶叶原料，而另有100多名村民直接在工厂岗位上工作。