China’s “Great Green Wall” Slows Desertification

Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Applied Ecology report that China’s Three-North Shelter Forest Program, also known as the “Great Green Wall”, has reduced overall desertified land by approximately 10% since 2000 and severely or extremely desertified land by over 40%. The project, begun in 1978, aims to halt the expansion of the Gobi Desert and other deserts into northern China.

The program has increased forest coverage within the project area from about 5% in 1978 to 14% in 2022, now covering 500,000 square kilometers. A key technique employed is “straw checkerboard” technology, which stabilizes sand dunes and supports plant growth with irrigation.

Researchers attribute the progress to the combined efforts of frontline workers, strategic planning, and substantial national investment. Increased rainfall in some areas has also aided vegetation recovery. However, scientists now focus on ensuring the long-term sustainability of forest protection within the project area.