As he watches his neighbors watering the tens of thousands of tree saplings they planted in their Himalayan village a few months ago, Gyan Thinlay is excited about turning this patch of bare desert into a lush habitat for insects and birds.
Chushul village sits more than 4,200 meters above sea level in the Ladakh region, a cold desert between India and China where less than 10 centimeters of annual rainfall and extreme seasonal temperature swings make it difficult for much to grow.
But that didn't discourage the villagers from planting 150,000 trees — mainly willow, sea buckthorn and tamarisk — in June, in a project they hope will combat air pollution, boost biodiversity and provide a new income source for locals who traditionally rely on livestock.