Dr. Seiei Toyama: Father of the Desert, Messenger of Human Peace, Part 1 of 2

A leading expert in desert control, Dr. Seiei Toyama was respectfully known as “Father of the Desert” in Japan, and also held an honorary citizenship for Inner Mongolia. Dr. Seiei Toyama was born in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, in 1906. As a student, young Dr. Seiei Toyama expressed interest in desert management. He enrolled in Kyoto University, where he went on to earn his doctorate degree in agronomy in 1962. Dr. Seiei Toyama sought global cooperation in desertification control. He said: “Solving environmental problems requires the world’s all-round coordination; greening China’s desert is also helping ourselves.” The year 1989 was an important turning point for Dr. Toyama’s endeavors in China. He was invited to Inner Mongolia for an inspection, and went to Engebei. It is said that Engebei used to be a natural carpet covered with lush green grass. Unfortunately, human activities such as animal livestock-raising as well as ensuing climate change gradually turned the 200,000 square meters of land into yellow sand and barren earth.