China has restored over 5 million hectares of land through intensified desertification control efforts since 2023, marking a milestone in ecological rehabilitation, Natural Resources Minister Guan Zhi'ou announced this week.
The progress stems from the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, a multi-sector initiative involving public-private partnerships across 13 provincial-level regions. Innovative approaches like photovoltaic power installations along treated areas are generating renewable energy while stabilizing soil.
"This isn't just environmental work – it's creating economic opportunities," Guan emphasized during a post-National People's Congress interview. In Inner Mongolia alone, $207 million in payments to local participants supported 200,000 residents through sustainable land management projects.
Analysts note the program aligns with China's dual carbon goals, combining ecological restoration with clean energy infrastructure development. The achieved restoration area equals roughly half of South Korea's total landmass.
