China has achieved a remarkable feat by completely encircling the Taklimakan Desert with a sand-blocking green belt stretching 3,046 kilometers. Known as the “Sea of Death,” the Taklimakan Desert in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region spans over 337,600 square kilometers and is the country’s largest desert.
Over the past 40 years, China has been battling desertification through the ambitious Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP), launched in 1978. The TSFP is the world’s largest afforestation project, aiming to curb the expansion of deserts and restore degraded land.
The green belt around the Taklimakan is a testament to these efforts. By planting trees and vegetation along the desert’s perimeter, China has created a natural barrier against sandstorms and soil erosion, protecting surrounding communities and ecosystems.
According to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, more than 35.8 million hectares of desertified land have been conserved, and over 7.8 million hectares have been effectively rehabilitated nationwide. The forest coverage rate in the TSFP area has increased from 12.41% to 13.84%, and 61% of soil erosion areas have been brought under control.
“China has taken the global lead in achieving ‘zero growth’ in land degradation and a ‘dual reduction’ in desertification and desertified land,” said Huang Caiyi, an official from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. Over half of the treatable desertified land has been rehabilitated, with a net reduction of over 4.3 million hectares.
The success of projects like the green belt around the Taklimakan Desert showcases China’s commitment to environmental sustainability and offers valuable lessons in combating desertification—an issue that affects many regions around the world.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
