China is set to share its successful strategies for combating desertification at the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, scheduled from December 2 to 13. The Chinese delegation will highlight the nation’s significant achievements in land restoration and ecological conservation.
“We have put 53 percent of the treatable sandy land under effective treatment,” stated Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning during a press conference on Friday. Mao emphasized China’s commitment to preventing and controlling desertification through large-scale ecological projects.
One of the key initiatives is the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP), launched in 1978 and continuing until 2050. The TSFP has expanded afforestation areas by 32 million hectares, aiming to cover over 4 million square kilometers across 13 provinces by its completion. This monumental project represents 42.4 percent of China’s total land area.
China, being one of the countries most affected by desertification, is home to the world’s second-largest shifting desert, the Taklimakan Desert, covering an area of 337,600 square kilometers. Known as the “Sea of Death,” the Taklimakan has been encircled by a sand-blocking green belt stretching 3,046 kilometers, according to local authorities in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of China signing the UNCCD. At COP16, themed “Our Land,” China will share its experiences and strategies in combating desertification, contributing to global efforts in land restoration and sustainable development.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
