HOHHOT, July 2 -- A herder has been awarded the highest honor in the Communist Party of China (CPC), the July 1 Medal, for his decades of efforts to improve environment and the lives of herders in border areas in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Ting Bater's father Ting Mao was a general who made contribution to the founding of New China. In 1974, 19-year-old Ting, as an educated youth, left the city for Sarultuya Village to learn from peasants.

On northern edge of Hunshandake Sandland, grassland was in danger of desertification in 1980s.

As the Party chief of Sarultuya Village Committee, Ting found the reason behind desertification in 1993 -- Sheep overgrazing.

Ting found sheep dig and eat the roots of grass, while cows only eat the shoots.

In 1998, he proposed substitution of cattle for sheep to curb desertification.

Ting has lived on grassland for 47 years, during which he has brought improvement to both herders income and ecology system.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service