One year after sealing the edges of Xinjiang's Taklimakan Desert with a 4,800-km ecological barrier – dubbed the 'Green Great Wall' – China is pushing deeper into the arid landscape to turn barren sands into fertile ground. The world's longest desert-control project has entered a critical new phase, shifting from containment to active greening strategies.
In Moyu County, Hotan Prefecture, heavy machinery now levels dunes across 38,000 acres as workers prepare to plant drought-resistant date trees. This ambitious effort forms part of broader ecological restoration plans in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where desertification control has intensified since November 2024.
Local officials report that the project combines traditional sand-fixation grids with modern irrigation systems, creating microclimates to support agriculture. The initiative not only battles environmental degradation but also aims to boost economic opportunities through date plantations expected to yield commercial harvests by 2028.
As global interest grows in combating climate change, China's desert-control measures offer insights into large-scale ecological engineering. Researchers from multiple countries are currently studying the project's impact on regional biodiversity and dust-storm reduction across East Asia.
