China faces a daunting challenge in curbing desertification that touches every corner of the nation. About 27.4% of its land is classified as desert, a condition that affects roughly 400 million people. The arid regions are expanding, and sandstorms erase about 2,300 square kilometers of farmland each year, an area larger than the island of Tenerife. Yet the Great Green Wall project demonstrates how sustained, large-scale policy can counter this threat and yield meaningful results.
What is the Great Green Wall of China? It is a vast initiative recognized as the largest forest engineering project in the world. Launched in 1978, with a horizon set for 2050, it aims to create a green corridor about 4,480 kilometers long to halt the advance of the Gobi Desert. Known also as the Three North Project, this greenery belt spans the Northwest, North Central, and Northeast regions—the parts of the country most affected by desertification and crop losses.
Although it may look like a long shot, the project has produced measurable results. Independent research from ecological science teams at the Chinese Academy of Sciences confirms significant ecological gains and carbon dynamics tied to the reforestation effort.
Strong increase in tree area
Between 1978 and 2017, forested areas expanded by about 158,051 square kilometers, an increase comparable to almost twice the area of Andalusia. Beyond land recovery, the initiative also impacts climate through carbon sequestration, forming a robust carbon sink that helps mitigate industrial emissions. Researchers note that the program created a substantial portion of China’s total industrial CO2 absorption during those forty years.
The Three Norths project grew the national forest footprint from roughly 221,000 square kilometers in 1978 to about 379,000 square kilometers in 2017, according to latest figures. The initiative established a carbon capture system capable of sequestering about 47.06 million tons of carbon annually over the same period.
Additional data show that spring sandstorms in Beijing declined by roughly 70% between 2008 and 2018, underscoring the broader positive effects of reforestation beyond immediate land recovery.
Spring sandstorms in Beijing decreased by 70% between 2008 and 2018
By 2018, around 66,000 million trees had been planted, with emphasis on species able to thrive in arid soils, including Enterolobium cyclocarpum and other Fabaceae members known for resilience in harsh terrains.
The Chinese forestry administration maintains ongoing oversight of the program, tracking progress and adjusting strategies as needed. While some desert advance persisted during earlier years, improvements have become evident in recent decades as reforestation efforts matured.
Some voices have questioned the approach and figures released by authorities. Critics argue that reforestation sometimes proceeds without rigorous scientific criteria, on marginal lands, or with unsuitable species, raising concerns about sustainability and ecological balance. A prominent scholar from the China Environmental Forum in Washington highlighted that large tree-planting drives can fail if ongoing care is neglected and trees die, emphasizing that maintenance is essential for lasting impact.
A long-term national strategy
The desert-control effort is part of a broader national strategy to expand forest cover and strengthen ecological security. Significant public investment supports these aims, reflecting a long-term commitment to green infrastructure across the country.
Official statistics from the State Forestry Administration show that since 2001, roughly 50,000 square kilometers of forest area have been conserved or added annually in China, a figure that dwarfs many regions in Europe and beyond.
An average of 50,000 square kilometers of forest area is saved annually in China
Investments in reforestation have reached substantial levels, with estimates around 70 billion euros in the early 2010s. International observers note that many governments now pursue stronger forest protection and restrictions on deforestation. While China has achieved unprecedented green expansion this century, it remains a major CO2 emitter, and about 27 percent of its land area remains classified as dry or desertified.
Green is Gold references have assessed China’s ecological civilization approach and its broader strategy to curb deforestation while promoting sustainable land use. The Three Norths project serves as a landmark case in large-scale restoration, informing global discussions on forest restoration, desertification control, and climate resilience.
References: Ecological restoration literature and official Chinese government reports provide the primary basis for the data cited here. For scholarly context, see DOI: 10.1186/s13717-023-00455-8. Pertinent analyses of the project’s long-term outcomes are discussed in ecological science reviews cited by scholars in the field.
Notes on data sources and interpretive context accompany the discussion to support a balanced view of ecological restoration efforts and their long-range implications for desertification control and carbon dynamics.