Our project focuses on combating desertification with bacterial cellulose (BC) to enhance tree survival in arid environments. We aim to develop a sustainable, cost-effective water-retaining material to support afforestation efforts. By investigating existing soil retention solutions and collaborating with experts, we are exploring genetic engineering to increase BC production. Through interviews with conservationists and industry professionals, we've gained insights into desertification challenges and the importance of combining cultural tourism with environmental conservation.

1. Professor Wang (Institute of Genetics and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

• Stability in Extreme Conditions: BC's stability under extreme climates is crucial for its application in desert environments.
• Root Interaction: Effective interaction between BC, roots, water, and nutrients needs further research.
• Degradation Rate: Investigate BC's degradation rate in arid conditions.
• Ecological Restoration Potential: BC can improve seedling survival and soil quality over the long term.

2. Professor Xu (College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University)

• Strain Selection: Use strains of Komagataeibacter xylinus that naturally produce high BC amounts.
• Glucose-6-Phosphate Accumulation: Enhance BC production by increasing glucose-6-phosphate availability through genetic modifications.
• Gene Integration: Integrate genes into the bacterial genome for stable expression.
• Cultivation Conditions: Optimize cultivation conditions to improve BC yield.

3. Ant Group (Ant Forest)

• User Engagement: Enhance user interaction and visualization of water retention effects.
• Comparative Experiments: Conduct tests comparing BC with existing water-retaining materials to showcase its advantages.
• Environmental Adaptability: Test BC under different soil types and climate conditions for comprehensive application strategies.

4. Nuomu (Ant Forest Tree Planting Team)

• Site Selection: Careful selection of planting locations is essential, with expert consultation on suitable tree species.
• Water-Retaining Agents: Immediate application of BC as a water-retaining agent post-planting aligns with best practices.
• Technical Support and Training: Provide training sessions on BC usage to enhance planter skills and improve seedling survival rates.

5. Professor Tang (Zhejiang University)

• Field Investigations: Conduct site assessments to evaluate soil and moisture conditions for better plant selection.
• Pilot Projects: Implement small-scale pilot projects to gather data on plant growth performance.
• Monitoring Mechanisms: Establish regular monitoring to record survival rates and ecological changes for data-driven improvements.

6. Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden Experts

• Tree Species Selection: Preference for deep-rooted, drought-resistant species with excellent water retention.
• Local Plants: Utilize local and economically beneficial species for desertification control.
• Field Experiments: Conduct field experiments alongside lab work for reliable and generalizable results.

7. Yang Lihui (Jinjiaxi Forest Scenic Area)

• Afforestation Efforts: Emphasize deep-rooted plants and effective water-retaining materials for improved survival rates.
• Cultural Tourism: Sustainable tourism management can enhance local economies and funding for environmental protection.
• Voluntourism: Engage the public in conservation efforts and support local communities.
• Educational Role of Museums: Museums can enhance understanding of local culture and promote environmental conservation.
• Modern Technologies: Focus on protecting human-impacted regions and employing modern technologies for better outcomes in severely desertified areas.

At the beginning of our team formation, we came across a documentary about combating desertification in the region. The documentary comprehensively introduces the current achievements of sand prevention and sand control, how to promote the technology of sand prevention and sand control and focuses on the huge ecological and economic and social benefits achieved by the "Three North" protection forest project.

Results and takeaways:

It was this experience that made us understand that how to improve the survival rate of trees is one of the key technical hurdles in the construction of protection forests. After returning to school, we shared this experience with our teachers and students. Since decertified areas are often accompanied by a decrease in precipitation, which further affects the survival of trees, we thought that we could try to improve the survival rate of trees by increasing the duration of water maintenance around the trees, hoping that it would help in sand prevention and sand fixation.

To gain a deeper understanding of land desertification both in China and globally, we accessed various data from official platforms. According to data from the State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, approximately 27% of the country's land area is threatened by desertification [1]. On a global scale, soil desertification is equally severe. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) states that approximately 30% of the world's land is affected by desertification, and the amount of arable land lost each year due to soil degradation is equivalent to one Ukrainian national territory [2]. The global rate of soil desertification is astonishing, posing a huge threat to ecosystems and human survival. According to the report of the UNCCD, approximately 12 million hectares of land are lost each year due to desertification, which is equivalent to approximately 23 football fields per minute [2].

[1] Source: State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China

[2] Source: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

Preventing soil desertification is not solely the responsibility of the government and nonprofit organizations; it also requires active participation from people across all sectors of society. To investigate the public awareness of desertification, we conducted a survey. We found that 81.82% of respondents were fully aware that land desertification would affect both their own future and that of future generations. Additionally, 66% of participants expressed willingness to contribute financial support monthly for desertification control efforts. While the donation amounts varied, given China's large population, this collective support represents a significant and impactful force.

Before the project design, we constantly contemplated and discussed how to enhance the water retention around the roots of seedlings during desert afforestation. To address this, we reviewed relevant literature and discovered that there are already several practical water-retaining materials in use. Consequently, we summarized the advantages and disadvantages of these materials, which indicates that developing water-retaining materials to support seedling survival is both meaningful and marketable.

Through literature review, we have identified several types of Soil Water Retention Materials currently in practical use. Organic mulch is known for its ability to reduce evaporation, improve soil organic matter, and enhance soil structure [3]. However, it requires regular replacement, has high maintenance costs, and may harbor pests in humid conditions. Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) can absorb and slowly release large amounts of water, increasing plant survival rates in arid regions, but their slow degradation may affect soil microbes, and their high-cost limits large-scale application [4]. Soil amendments, such as bentonite and biochar, can improve soil structure and enhance water retention and are widely used in desertification control [5]. However, overuse can negatively affect soil properties, with some materials becoming sticky in high moisture, hindering root aeration. Water-retentive vegetation, with deep root systems, helps prevent soil erosion and improves fertility, but is slow to show results and may compete for water with afforestation trees in resource-limited environments [6]. Hydrogels offer excellent water retention capacity and are biodegradable and eco-friendly, but they come with high costs and may lose effectiveness in extreme climates [7].

So, identifying a new soil water retention material that combines high water retention capacity, biodegradability, and cost-efficiency has thus become our goal!

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a valuable extracellular biopolymer synthesized by several bacteria belonging to the genera Acetobacter, Komagataeibacter, Agrobacterium, Bacillus, Clostridium botulinum, Lactobacillus, and Bacillus glucoses [8]. The nanofibrous network constituting the BC structure consists of well-aligned three-dimensional nanofibers forming a high surface area and porous hydrogel layer [9]. BC has excellent physicochemical and mechanical properties such as purity, high crystallinity, high water storage capacity, high degree of polymerization, high surface area, and chemical stability. In addition, BC is biocompatible, biodegradable, and renewable compared to other water retention materials such as hydrogel, polyacrylamide (PAM), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) [8]. BC, as a more cost-effective and sustainable solution, is particularly well-suited for regions where reducing soil moisture evaporation is critical. Its three-dimensional structure and adaptability to various environmental conditions make it an ideal material for enhancing soil water retention.

Interview 1: Professor Wang

Interviewee: Professor Wang

Associate Researcher, Institute of Genetics and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Suggestions and takeaways:

• The application of bacterial cellulose in desert environments must ensure its stability under extreme climatic conditions. Although bacterial cellulose possesses excellent water retention properties, its tolerance to high temperatures, drought, and saline-alkaline conditions requires further testing.
• The healthy growth of plants depends on the effective interaction between roots, water, and nutrients. While bacterial cellulose is non-toxic to plant roots and can provide strong support, further research is needed to determine whether it can promote deeper root penetration into the soil and enhance the absorption of water and nutrients.
• Bacterial cellulose is biodegradable, but its degradation rate in extreme desert conditions (such as dryness and lack of organic matter) may be slow, necessitating further investigation.
• In the long term, bacterial cellulose has the potential to serve as an ecological restoration tool, not only increasing seedling survival rates but also potentially improving soil structure and water retention in desert areas.

Interview 2: Professor Xu

Interviewee: Professor Xu
Associate Professor, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University

Suggestions and takeaways:

• We should use a strain of Komagataeibacter xylinus that naturally produces a relatively high amount of bacterial cellulose (BC).
• We can enhance the accumulation of glucose-6-phosphate, the precursor for BC biosynthesis, by overexpressing the pgi gene from Escherichia coli and knocking out the gdh gene, effectively increasing the availability of substrates for BC production.
• To achieve stable, controllable, and safe long-term expression of exogenous genes, the best approach is to integrate the genes into the bacterial genome.
• In addition to genetic modifications, cultivation conditions can also impact yield, and optimizing these conditions may further improve BC production.

Ant Group (Ant Forest)

To gain a deeper understanding of the frontline efforts in desertification control and determine the potential application of our product, we visited Ant Group (Ant Forest). Ant Group owns Alipay and runs a famous public benefit project: Ant Forest. As users of Alipay, we can collect green energy by using Alipay to pay money, using public transport. When we collect enough energy, Ant Group will use this energy to plant a real tree in the northern part of China, such as the Alashan desert. In 2023, Ant Group planted 475 million trees to relieve desertification. Our team visited Alipay Lab in Shanghai.

Suggestions and takeaways:

• Market Demand and User Experience: The staff emphasized the importance of user engagement. They suggested that we consider ways to enhance user interaction in our project, such as visualizing the water retention effects to attract more people to participate in tree planting activities. This could increase public awareness and recognition of our product.
• Practical Case Studies of Technology Application: The staff shared insights on the various water-retaining materials they use in tree planting. This made us realize the importance of not only focusing on bacterial cellulose (BC) but also examining existing water-retaining materials in the market. Conducting comparative experiments could highlight the unique advantages of our product.
• Environmental Adaptability and Sustainable Development: The Ant Forest project showcased tree growth under different environmental conditions. The staff recommended that we consider the effects of various soil types and climate conditions when testing the water retention capability of BC. This would provide a more comprehensive application strategy for our product, ensuring its effectiveness and sustainability in real-world applications.

Through this visit, we revised our educational activities to emphasize public engagement and experiential learning. However, due to the limited time available for this project, we will conduct comparative tests of different water-retaining materials and assess the performance of bacterial cellulose (BC) under various soil conditions and environmental settings in the future.

Nuomu – Ant Forest Tree Planting Member

Before concluding our visit, we had the opportunity to engage in a phone conversation with the team members responsible for tree planting at Ant Forest. This interaction brought us closer to the practical application of our project outcomes.

Suggestions and takeaways:

• Site Selection and Expert Consultation: The team emphasized the importance of carefully selecting planting locations and consulting experts to verify key details such as tree species and planting conditions. Incorporating this practice into our project's implementation phase will ensure that we select tree species suited to specific environmental conditions.
• Use of Water-Retaining Agents: The team mentioned the immediate use of rooting powder and water-retaining agents after planting to enhance seedling survival rates. Applying bacterial cellulose (BC) as a water-retaining material aligns with their practices, and BC serves as a more sustainable choice for water retention.
• Enhanced Technical Support and Training: Staff highlighted that improving the skill level of planters is crucial for tree survival rates. Therefore, in the practical application phase of our project, we could consider conducting training sessions to educate participants on the use and benefits of bacterial cellulose. This would enhance their application capabilities and, in turn, improve seedling survival rates. Such training not only strengthens the team's professionalism but also fosters community support and understanding of our project.

Interview 3: Professor Tang

Interviewee: Professor Tang
Professor, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University

Suggestions and takeaways:

• Field Investigation: Conduct on-site assessments of target planting areas to evaluate soil and moisture conditions, enabling better selection of suitable plants.
• Pilot Project: Implement small-scale pilot planting projects to monitor the growth performance of different plants in various environments, accumulating data to optimize future planting strategies.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish a regular monitoring mechanism to record seedling survival rates and ecological changes, providing data support for subsequent improvements.

We will integrate these recommendations by conducting thorough field assessments to select the most suitable plant species for our specific environment. Additionally, we will implement pilot projects to gather data on plant performance, which will inform our long-term strategies and enhance the overall success of our ecological restoration efforts.

Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden

Impetus: We still have questions about the specific characteristics of desertification plants and successful management experiences. Their information sharing is crucial to our project. Therefore, we visited the Sandpipe at Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, where we observed thousands of different types of sand plants, and our teachers provided detailed explanations of their characteristics. Following this, we interviewed three desertification experts and posed numerous questions.

Two-way Communication:

Through the interviews, we learned that desertification varies widely; uncontrollable factors such as temperature, soil environment, and humidity in each desert can lead to differences in desert environments. Particularly in China, geographical reasons result in significant variation in the conditions for managing each desert. Therefore, desertification control needs to be adjusted according to the local natural environment.

We should carefully select tree species. Generally, due to the low precipitation and difficulty in irrigation in deserts, plants with deep roots and low water usage are preferred, along with substrate materials with excellent water retention capabilities. Additionally, we should consider using local plants and economically beneficial tree species for desertification control. We also need to account for the frequent sandstorms in desert environments, so the chosen plants should be low-growing and capable of reducing wind and dust resistance.

To enhance the feasibility of the experiment, in addition to conducting experiments in the laboratory, we need to carry out field experiments and compare multiple experimental groups for long-term tracking and observation to make the technology more reliable and generalizable.

Therefore, this reinforced our decision to select sea-buckthorn, a tree species known for its strong rooting ability, sandstorm resistance, and certain economic benefits, for our water retention tests.

Interview 4: Lihui Yang

Interviewee: Lihui Yang
Head of Jinjiaxi Forest Scenic Area, Chuzhou. Travel Guider

Suggestions and takeaways:

• Desertification is a major challenge in Northwest China, but recent afforestation efforts are promising. Using deep-rooted, low-water-use plants and effective water-retaining materials can improve plant survival in degraded areas.
• Cultural tourism can boost the local economy and funding for environmental protection, provided it's managed sustainably through visitor limits and nature reserves.
• Voluntourism promotes public engagement in conservation while supporting local communities and raising environmental awareness.
• Museums play a key role in educational travel, enhancing understanding of local culture. Future policies should encourage more museums and integrate them with tourism to foster environmental conservation awareness.
• In areas with severe desertification, focusing on protecting human-impacted regions and employing modern technologies may yield better conservation outcomes.

Overall, our project will positively impact the local environment, economy, and sustainability by promoting effective afforestation and community engagement in conservation.

Implemented Measures:

• Expert Consultations: Conducted interviews with Professor Wang and Professor Xu to gain insights on BC’s application in arid conditions and genetic engineering strategies for enhanced production.
• Engagement with Ant Group: Visited Ant Forest to learn about effective water-retaining materials and user engagement strategies, emphasizing the need for visualizing water retention effects.
• Selection of Test Tree Species: According to Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden expert, we chose sea-buckthorn as our test species, recognized for its ability to prevent wind erosion, stabilize sand, and provide economic benefits.
• Preliminary Water Retention Tests: Initiated small-scale water retention tests using BC to gather initial data on its effectiveness in enhancing soil moisture around seedlings.

Future Measures:

• Perform field investigations to select suitable plant species based on local conditions.
• Conduct comparative experiments to test BC against existing water-retaining materials.
• Plan training sessions aimed at educating planters on the benefits and application of bacterial cellulose (BC) to improve seedling survival rates.
• Establish a monitoring mechanism for evaluating seedling survival rates and ecological changes in the future.

These insights and actions will guide our project toward achieving effective and sustainable afforestation practices to combat desertification.

• 1. 第011版. (n.d.). 中国荒漠化沙化土地面积持续减少。http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrbhwb/html/2023-01/10/content_25958876.htm
• 2.《公约》执行情况审评委员会 & 第二十届会议. (2021). 《联合国防治荒漠化公约》秘书处和全球机制的业绩报告(2020-2021 年). In 联合国防治荒漠化公约 (Report ICCD/CRIC(20)/3; pp. 1–20). https://www.unccd.int/sites/default/files/2022-04/ICCD_CRIC%2820%29_3-2203719C_0.pdf.
• 3. Dedi Ma, Lei Chen, Hongchao Qu, Yilin Wang, Tom Misselbrook, Rui Jiang. Impacts of plastic film mulching on crop yields, soil water, nitrate, and organic carbon in Northwestern China: A meta-analysis. Agricultural Water Management. 2018, 202:166-173.
• 4. Bai, Wenbo & Zhang, Henggui & Liu, B. & wu, Yanbo & Song, J.Q.. Effects of Superabsorbent Polymers on the Physical and Chemical Properties of Soil Following Different Wetting and Drying Cycles. Soil Use and Management. 2010, 26:253 -260.
• 5. Glaser, B., Lehmann, J. & Zech, W. Ameliorating physical and chemical properties of highly weathered soils in the tropics with charcoal – a review. Biol Fertil Soils. 2002, 35:219–230.
• 6. Jianlin Zhao, Zhiqiang Yang, Gerard Govers. Soil and water conservation measures reduce soil and water losses in China but not down to background levels: Evidence from erosion plot data. Geoderma. 2019, 337:729-741.
• 7. Song M, Wang J, He J, Kan D, Chen K, Lu J. Synthesis of Hydrogels and Their Progress in Environmental Remediation and Antimicrobial Application. Gels. 2022 Dec 26;9(1):16.
• 8. Avcioglu, N.H. Bacterial cellulose: recent progress in production and industrial applications. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 38, 86 (2022). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11274-022-03271-y#citeas.
• 9. Esa F, Tasirin SM, Abd Rahman N (2014) Overview of bacterial cellulose production and application. Agriculture and Agricultural Science Procedia 2:113–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aaspro.2014.11.017.
• 10. Singhania RR, Patel AK, Tsai ML, Chen CW, Di Dong C. Genetic modification for enhancing bacterial cellulose production and its applications. Bioengineered. 2021 Dec;12(1):6793-6807.