Yin Yuzhen honored by FAO for 40 years of desertification combat

Yin Yuzhen, a Chinese pioneer in combating desertification, has been named one of the ‘100 Heroines of Agroalimentary Systems and Rural Development’ by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The recognition was presented on October 15 at the FAO headquarters in Rome during the World Food Forum.

Yin has spent over four decades working to combat desertification in the sandy Maowusu area of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in northern China. Through persistent tree planting, she and her family transformed previously arid landscapes into green areas despite harsh conditions and shifting sands.

The ceremony also highlighted the long-standing connection between Yin and Ronald Sakolsky, a retired American teacher who raised $5,000 years ago to support her reforestation efforts. FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu emphasized the indispensable role of women farmers in food security, natural resource management, and community resilience. The ‘100 Heroines’ initiative was launched to commemorate the 2026 International Year of Rural Women.