Strong national effort to combat desertification
China faces a pressing challenge: desertification threatens vast tracts of land and affects hundreds of millions of people. With roughly 27.4% of the country classified as desert or arid, the impact spans agriculture, livelihoods, and regional stability. Every year, shifting sands claim thousands of square kilometers of farmland, a loss greater than the size of Tenerife. Yet the Great Green Wall project demonstrates how sustained, large-scale policy can curb this threat, turning a daunting problem into a measurable success.
What is the Great Green Wall of China? Also known as the Three Norths Project, this extraordinary forest-creation initiative is often cited as the largest engineering effort of its kind. Launched in 1978, it aims to extend a continuous belt of woodland across the northwest, north-central, and northeast regions—the areas most affected by desertification and crop loss. The project is planned to continue through 2050, targeting a forested corridor that stretches thousands of kilometers and serves as a shield against the Gobi Desert.
While some perceived the effort as only a long-term gesture, scientific research continues to confirm its tangible benefits. A study published in Ecological Processes, conducted by researchers at the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, highlights notable ecological gains and reinforces the value of reforestation as a climate and soil policy tool.
Expanding forest cover and carbon capture
According to the study, forest areas established between 1978 and 2017 expanded by 158,051 square kilometers, an amount comparable to nearly twice the size of Andalusia. The significance lies not only in the reclaimed desert zones but also in the environmental services provided, including carbon dioxide sequestration that contributes to cleaner air and climate regulation.
Researchers estimate that the reforestation effort created a substantial carbon sink, absorbing about 5% of China’s total industrial CO2 emissions during the period from 1978 to 2017. Over the forty-year span, the Three Norths project increased the national forest area from roughly 221,000 square kilometers in 1978 to about 379,000 square kilometers by 2017, forming a robust system capable of capturing an estimated 47.06 million tons of carbon annually at its peak.
Additional data show that spring sandstorms in Beijing declined by about 70% between 2008 and 2018, a clear indicator of the project’s protective effect well before its full completion. The planting program emphasized species well suited to arid soils, including representatives of the Fabaceae family, which are known for their resilience in hostile environments.
China’s forestry administration maintains continuous monitoring of the project’s progress. While desert advance persisted during initial phases, the latest data indicate a turning point with a reduction in desertification in the years leading up to the present, underscoring the long-term impact of large-scale ecological investment.
Some voices have questioned certain aspects of the program, including the management of reforestation efforts and monitoring of outcomes. Critics have pointed to instances of planting on unsuitable land or using species that may not thrive under local conditions, sparking debate about best practices and scientific criteria. Nonetheless, observers note that the overall trajectory shows a meaningful shift toward healthier ecosystems, with ongoing assessment guiding adjustments. A prominent environmental expert in Washington cautioned that while large tree-planting campaigns can pause desertification, sustained care is essential to prevent immediate losses. The commentary reflects a broader conversation about how to balance ambition with ecological reality and scientific rigor.
A long-term national strategy
The push to expand forest cover in the Three Norths is a cornerstone of a wider national strategy to significantly increase China’s forested area. This approach involves substantial public investment and policy support, reflecting a commitment to ecological civilization and sustainable development across decades.
Official figures from the State Forestry Administration show that since 2001, an average of 50,000 square kilometers of forest area has been conserved annually in China, a scale that dwarfs many regional benchmarks and demonstrates the scale of national commitment to greening the landscape.
An average of 50,000 square kilometers of forest area is saved annually in China
Investment in reforestation rose markedly in the early 2010s, with figures estimated at about 70 billion euros during the first five years of that decade, according to the United Nations Green is Gold report. While some deforestation restrictions and enforcement measures are expanding, no other nation has matched China’s expansive green program in this century. At the same time, China remains a major emitter of CO2, and roughly a quarter of its land remains dry, underscoring the complexity of balancing ecological restoration with rapid development. The Green is Gold report and related analyses provide a broader context for evaluating these dynamics.
For researchers and policymakers seeking deeper insights, studies continue to document the project’s ecological and climate-related outcomes. This ongoing work emphasizes the importance of rigorous methodology, transparent reporting, and adaptive management as desertification pressures shift and new ecological challenges emerge.
As with any large-scale environmental program, there is a continuum of lessons—both successes and caveats—that inform future efforts in other regions facing similar threats. The Three Norths initiative remains a pivotal reference point for understanding how long-term planning, public investment, and ecological stewardship can reshape a nation’s landscape and climate trajectory.