HOHHOT -- North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region has made substantial progress in sand control over the past 10 years, according to a seminar held on Friday.

During the 10-year period, Inner Mongolia has planted 131 million mu (about 8.7 million hectares) of trees, grown 318 million mu of grass, and treated 138 million mu of desertified and sandy land, said Wang Zhaosheng, director of the regional forestry and grassland bureau.

The region's forest coverage and grassland vegetation coverage have reached 20.79 percent and 45 percent, respectively.

Wang said that the autonomous region has integrated the prevention and control of desertification with industrial development and improvements to people's livelihoods. It has also developed industries including new energy and desert ecotourism.

Home to four of the country's major deserts and four major sandy areas, Inner Mongolia has long been plagued by desertification and sandy land, and in recent years, the region has stepped up its afforestation efforts.