As China prepares to implement its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), ecological conservation takes center stage with groundbreaking strategies for grassland protection and restoration. Professor Dong Shikui of Beijing Forestry University reveals how this blueprint marks a paradigm shift in sustainable development through integrated ecosystem management.
From Single-Focus to Systemic Solutions
The new plan advocates a “holistic conservation” approach that integrates grasslands with mountains, waters, forests, and deserts. “This moves beyond traditional grass-only management,” explains Dong, emphasizing the need for landscape-level planning within China’s territorial spatial framework.
Building Climate-Resilient Ecosystems
Key strategies include advanced grazing management systems and native species restoration. These measures aim to enhance carbon sequestration capacity while protecting biodiversity – critical goals as China advances its dual carbon objectives of peaking emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
Global Ecological Leadership
The plan positions China’s grassland restoration efforts as both domestic necessity and global responsibility. With degraded grasslands covering 40% of the country’s territory, successful implementation could set new international benchmarks for combating desertification and preserving vital ecosystems.
