The United Nations Environment Programme announced on the line on the 10th that Lu Qi, a Chinese scientist who won the 2024 "Earth Guardian Award", won the "Science and Innovation Award" in the "Earth Guardian Award" for helping China reverse the trend of land degradation and reduce desertification area, which is the first time that Chinese people have won in this category. On April 15, 2023, in Horqin Left Back Banner, Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia, sand control workers planted trees in Horqin Sandy Land. In recent years, relying on key ecological projects such as the "Three North" shelter forest, the ecological environment of Horqin Sandy Land has been improved. The annual "Earth Guardian Award" is the highest level environmental award presented by the United Nations, aimed at recognizing individuals and organizations that have had a transformative impact on the environment. The United Nations Environment Programme stated that the winners of several awards at the 2024 Champions of the Earth Awards have demonstrated outstanding leadership, courageous actions, and sustainable solutions in addressing land degradation, drought, and desertification. It is reported that Lu Qi has 30 years of work experience in the fields of science and policy. As the chief scientist of the Chinese Academy of Forestry and the first president of the Three North Engineering Research Institute, Lu Qi has played a key role in implementing the world's largest afforestation project, establishing desert ecological research networks and partnerships, and promoting multilateral cooperation in global efforts to curb desertification, land degradation, and drought. Lu Qi stated in a written interview with Xinhua News Agency that this award is a high recognition and motivation for China's forestry and grassland industry, especially for sand control technology workers. He said that China's over 70 year history of desertification control is a history of technology supporting ecological construction. Several generations of Chinese desertification control technology workers have worked hard and created miracles in scientific and technological desertification control, making contributions to the construction of key ecological projects such as China's "Three Norths". Other recipients of the 2024 "Guardians of the Earth Award" include Sonia Guayayala, Minister of Indigenous Affairs of Brazil, who received the "Policy Leadership Award"; Amy Bowers Codalis, a Native American rights advocate, who received the "Inspiration and Action Award"; Gabriel Bonn, an environmental defender from Romania; Madhav Gagil, an Indian ecologist, who received the "Lifetime Achievement Award"; and SEKEM, a sustainable agriculture initiative, who received the "Business Insight Award". The Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Inge Anson, stated in a press release that nearly 40% of the world's land has degraded, desertification is becoming increasingly severe, and destructive droughts are becoming more frequent. The Earth Guardians of 2024 remind us through their efforts that we can win the 'battle' to protect our land, rivers, and oceans. With the right policies, technological breakthroughs, institutional reforms, proactive actions, and the important leadership and wisdom of indigenous peoples, we can restore ecosystems