China Greens 480 Million Mu of Land in Desertification Fight

On the International Day Against Dust Storms, China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA) has released comprehensive data showing that 480 million mu (32 million hectares) of land have been afforested through the country’s flagship Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, with forest coverage in the project area rising from 5.05% in 1978 to 13.84% today, according to CCTV News.

The data, published on July 12 — the date established by the UN General Assembly in 2023 as the International Day Against Dust Storms — marks a historic milestone in what officials describe as a shift from “sand advances, people retreat” to “green advances, sand retreats.”

A Historic Reversal

The numbers tell a striking story of ecological turnaround. China’s sandy land area has achieved net reduction for four consecutive monitoring periods, transitioning from an annual expansion of 5.15 million mu at the end of the last century to a current annual reduction of 10 million mu. Wind erosion across the country’s eight major deserts and four major sandy lands has decreased by approximately 40% compared to the year 2000, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.

Spring sandstorm events have also declined markedly. Over the past 20 years, the annual average dropped from 12.5 to 9.6 events, with just eight sandstorms recorded in spring 2026. The NFGA confirmed that sandstorm frequency and intensity have both trended downward.

The Three-North Program: A 48-Year Endeavor

Launched in 1978, the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program is one of the world’s largest ecological restoration projects, spanning 13 provincial-level regions across China’s northwest, north, and northeast — an area covering approximately 42.4% of the country’s land territory. The program was conceived as a “Great Green Wall” to halt the southward advance of deserts.

Since the decisive battle phase was launched in June 2023, the program has accelerated dramatically. According to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, cumulative construction tasks of 244 million mu (16.27 million hectares) have been completed across 544 projects, with central investment reaching 889 billion yuan. In 2026 alone, 277 billion yuan has been allocated for 328 key projects covering more than 95 million mu.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China completed treatment of 152 million mu (10.13 million hectares) of sandy land, while the Three-North region has cumulatively restored 1.28 billion mu (85.33 million hectares) of degraded grassland.

Inner Mongolia: The Frontline of Desert Control

Inner Mongolia, which hosts the majority of the Three-North Program’s workload, has emerged as a laboratory for innovative desert control methods. The region has completed 95.36 million mu of Three-North project tasks over the past three years, including 52.73 million mu of desertification control — ranking first nationally, according to Xinhua’s Economic Reference News.

Wang Zhaosheng, Director of the Inner Mongolia Forestry and Grassland Bureau, told Xinhua that the region has cumulatively completed ecological management of over 30 million mu at provincial and league-city boundaries through cross-jurisdictional cooperation.

One of the most notable innovations is the “photovoltaic desert control” model, which integrates solar energy generation with sand stabilization. Inner Mongolia has completed 2.48 million mu of desert control through this approach, with 27.27 GW of new energy capacity installed. The region has also pioneered an “employment through work-relief” mechanism, distributing 2.8 billion yuan in labor compensation to 210,000 farmers and herders who participate in afforestation efforts.

“Inner Mongolia has comprehensively promoted advanced applicable new technologies and equipment for desert control, with mechanized desert control coverage reaching 54% in 2025,” said Han Ying, Deputy Director of the Inner Mongolia Forestry and Grassland Bureau.

Global Implications and International Cooperation

China’s desertification control efforts extend beyond its borders. The country has actively engaged in international cooperation, exporting over 11.7 million seedlings to Mongolia — which launched its own “Planting 10 Billion Trees” national campaign in 2021 — and hosting international training programs on desertification control.

In April 2026, the UNCCD Asia Regional Workshop was held in Ningxia, with 34 participants from 18 countries. International experts who visited China’s desert control projects have praised the results. Nguyen Trong Tien from Vietnam noted that “Ningxia’s successful transformation of barren desert into a vibrant ecosystem is the most powerful proof: with scientific management strategies and advanced technology, we are fully capable of achieving desert restoration.”

The UN General Assembly has declared 2025-2034 as the “Decade of Combating Sand and Dust Storms,” recognizing the global nature of the challenge.

Challenges Ahead

Despite significant progress, challenges remain. Large-scale afforestation in arid regions raises questions about water consumption, though the Three-North Program has evolved to emphasize drought-resistant native species. Additionally, dust storms originating from Mongolia can still affect China, highlighting the limits of unilateral action on transboundary environmental issues.

The 13.84% forest coverage figure is specific to the Three-North project area and does not reflect national forest coverage, which stands at approximately 24%. Nevertheless, the trajectory is clear: after nearly half a century, China’s Great Green Wall is transforming landscapes and livelihoods, offering a model for desertification control that is drawing global attention.