Sustainable Technology in Inoculating Cistance deserticola in Sousou Trees

Year Started	1992
Name of Project Leader	Mr. Togashi Satoshi
Project Description	The project aims to promote planting of sousou trees known to be the host of Cistanche deserticola, a medicinal plant, thriving in the roots of sousou trees. The medicinal plant has a high market value. The unsustainable collection of deserticola led to the gradual uprooting of sousou trees that contributed to the widening desertification problem of Alashan. The Ecology Institute of OISCA in Alashan developed a sustainable means to inoculate deserticola into the roots of the sousou trees, which was later introduced to the local farmers as a livelihood project. Supported by Mitsui and Company`s Environment Fund, a total of 380,000 sousou trees were planted.
Project Location	Alashan, Inner Mongolia