Growing with water: Recovering vegetation with rainwater-collecting cellars in Northern Shaanxi of the Loess Plateau

Northern Shaanxi is part of typical arid and semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau. Having been deteriorated by human and other factors for a long period, its natural ecology is extraordinarily vulnerable. It is very urgent and significant to restore and regenerate vegetation in order to improve the ecological environment here. This paper first analyzes the ecological and geographical characteristics of Northern Shaanxi of the Loess Plateau, and then brings forward a proposal of using rainwater-collecting cellars to restore vegetation in this area. Application of this vernacular technique follows some principles of being low-tech, sustainable, processive, and integrated with landscape design and will drive the whole restoration of ecological environment of this area from points to surfaces. After their mission of restoring vegetation and the environment is accomplished, the rainwater collectors will be buried naturally and disappear gradually, at that time the collecting area will be functionally transformed into a landscape site which local villagers could enjoy.