China's grassland ecosystems have shown significant recovery during the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), with official data revealing a 5.3% increase in average vegetation coverage compared to 2020 levels. The National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA) announced this week that sustainable management practices have restored over 30 million hectares of degraded grassland since the plan's implementation.
Key initiatives include rotational grazing systems, AI-powered biodiversity monitoring networks, and the establishment of 47 new grassland nature reserves. 'This ecological progress supports both environmental goals and rural livelihoods,' noted NFGA spokesperson Li Wei, highlighting that 2.1 million herder households have received subsidies for sustainable practices.
The improvements come as China prepares to host the UN Biodiversity Conference in Kunming next month, with grassland restoration emerging as a model for developing nations. Analysts suggest these achievements strengthen China's position in meeting its 2060 carbon neutrality targets, with healthy grasslands now sequestering 15% more carbon annually than in 2020.
