After more than 40 years of relentless effort, China has successfully encircled the vast Taklimakan Desert in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with a sprawling 3,046-kilometer-long green belt designed to block encroaching sands.
Dubbed the “Sea of Death,” the Taklimakan Desert covers an area of approximately 337,600 square kilometers, making it the largest desert in China and the world’s second-largest shifting sand desert. Its harsh environment and drifting dunes have posed significant challenges to local ecosystems and communities for centuries.
The completion of the green belt marks a monumental achievement in China’s fight against desertification. Stretching along the entire circumference of the desert, the sand-blocking belt serves as a natural barrier, curbing the spread of sandstorms and protecting nearby towns, farmlands, and infrastructure.
Over the past four decades, millions of trees and shrubs adapted to arid conditions have been planted as part of this large-scale ecological project. The initiative not only aims to halt the expansion of the desert but also to restore degraded land and promote sustainable development in the region.
The success of the Taklimakan green belt is a testament to China’s commitment to environmental conservation and its innovative approaches to combating desertification. It offers valuable insights and hope to other nations grappling with similar environmental challenges.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
