Certain regions of Central Asia, including parts of China and Mongolia, have historically been at risk of desertification due to their proximity to deserts and various contributing factors. During Mao Zedong’s leadership in the 1950s and 1960s, China undertook extensive tree planting initiatives to combat desertification. Poplar trees played a crucial role in these efforts due to their rapid growth and soil-stabilizing properties.
The Great Leap Forward, driven by the insistence that "man must conquer nature", exemplifies the dialectical process of striving to achieve modern industrial goals. Both the realms of man and his counterpart, nature, are oppressed in this struggle, which is central to understanding modern historical development.
Once celebrated as a “hero tree” for its role in combating desertification and enhancing urban and public well-being, the poplar now challenges its human masters. Its cottony seeds, shed by female trees and carried by the wind during their reproductive season, create a snowpocalypse that clutters city environments. In response to these issues, the government in Beijing has implemented measures such as the use of specialised equipment to collect and dispose of the seeds, and the introduction of contraceptive measures to prevent seed production.