China has recently completed the construction of an impressive 3,046km green wall that spans across the vast expanse of the Taklimakan Desert. This remarkable feat involved the planting of a large green belt consisting of red willows, saxaul, and various other tree species, which collectively form a formidable barrier against the relentless onslaught of sand.
Nestled in the Northwestern region of China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Taklimakan Desert stands as the world’s second-largest drifting desert. The formidable winds and frequent sandstorms that characterize this harsh landscape have a tendency to displace enormous quantities of sand, often resulting in the burial of roads, river channels, and agricultural lands. The profound impacts of these environmental challenges have led to local farmers dubbing the Taklimakan Desert as the “Sea of Death.” In response to this pressing issue, coupled with the expanding reach of the neighboring Gobi Desert, China initiated the ambitious Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program back in 1978.
Regarded as the most extensive ecological engineering project on a global scale, the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program has been a monumental endeavor set to unfold over a span of six decades, with an anticipated completion date set for 2050. The overarching goal of this program is to strategically plant approximately 100 billion trees, forming a network of protective barriers against sand encroachment that spans the entirety of China’s landmass. The successful implementation of the Taklimakan Desert project serves as a testament to the ongoing efforts to replicate this model in various other regions earmarked for similar ecological interventions.
A workforce comprising 600,000 dedicated individuals has been tirelessly engaged in the monumental task of planting trees across a sprawling landscape of 300,000 square kilometers. As reported by Chinese state media, the collective aspiration is to witness a substantial increase in forest coverage, ultimately reaching a remarkable four million square kilometers by the target year of 2050. Noteworthy progress has already been achieved in augmenting the nation’s forest coverage, with the percentage rising from a modest 10% in 1949 to a commendable 25% as of the year 2023. Despite these advancements, the specter of desertification continues to cast a long shadow over 27% of China’s territory. Alarming revelations from the United Nations indicate a global trend towards increased land aridity, with a staggering 77% of Earth’s landmass exhibiting drier conditions compared to just four decades ago.
The escalating pace of desertification worldwide, driven by the interplay of climate change and human activities, has emerged as a pressing concern. Within the context of this global challenge, China stands poised as one of the regions most profoundly impacted by the encroaching desertification menace. While commendations have been bestowed upon China for its proactive measures in combatting desertification, concerns have been raised regarding the ecological implications of the green belt initiative. Critics voice apprehensions over the prevalence of non-native tree species in these green.
