06/13/2026
Since 1978, China has been building the Three-North Shelter Forest Program, often called the Great Green Wall, a monumental project designed to halt the expansion of the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts. It has already planted over 66 billion trees across a 2,800-mile stretch, with plans to add another 34 billion by 2050, and recently completed a green belt fully encircling the Taklamakan Desert. The barrier aims to fight the severe soil erosion and dust storms that have long plagued northern cities like Beijing. However, critics warn it has real weaknesses, relying heavily on single-species plantations that are vulnerable to disease and planting thirsty trees in dry regions, which can deplete groundwater. Scientists now urge a shift toward more diverse, native planting.
