In a landmark achievement, China has successfully completed the green belt encircling the Taklimakan Desert, one of the largest deserts in the world. The green belt, spanning 3,046 kilometers, was officially completed with the planting of various plant species, including desert poplar, sacsaoul, and red willow, in Yutian County, located on the southern edge of the desert. This completion marks the end of a 40-year effort to prevent desertification and mitigate the effects of sandstorms in the region.
The Taklimakan Desert, covering 337,600 square kilometers, is the largest desert in China and the second-largest drifting desert globally. The green belt, which now fully encircles the desert, is a vital part of China’s ongoing desertification control efforts. Over the past four decades, more than 2,700 kilometers of the green belt have been established, connecting scattered oases and combating sand encroachment. This final 285-kilometer stretch, situated in the southern part of the desert, faced the harshest environmental challenges, including intense wind and sand conditions.
According to Wang Gang, Deputy Director of Desertification Control at the regional forestry and grassland administration, the next phase will focus on expanding the green belt to prevent further desert spread. The expansion will combine biological and engineering efforts, along with solar farm projects, creating a robust barrier to "lock" the Taklimakan Desert.
In addition to environmental benefits, the project is designed to improve the livelihoods of local residents. Farmers in the region will soon benefit from new agricultural ventures, such as growing Chinese herbs like isatis root and Chinese liquorice, alongside traditional crops like cistanche and Ziziphus jujube. These efforts aim to boost local income while simultaneously combating desertification.
The project is part of China’s broader Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP), the world’s largest afforestation initiative to combat desertification, which has been underway since 1978. By 2050, the TSFP is expected to cover over 4 million square kilometers and significantly enhance China's ecological security.