Under the efforts of Shi and his community, 250,000 mu of barren land have been reclaimed over the past four decades. What was once a desert landscape now blooms with fertile fields, serving as a prosperous granary in the region, and the income of local residents has been increased too.

For Shi, desert control not only means to survive, it is also for development. He and his team have pioneered an integrated development model encompassing anti-desertification, sapling cultivation, livestock farming, and eco-tourism. They have also established over 10 economic entities such as a forest farm, a demonstration cattle ranch, a feed processing plant, a forestry training center, and a lake-themed tourist attraction. These initiatives have significantly boosted the average income of local farmers.