China is gearing up to present its pioneering strategies against desertification at the upcoming 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In a recent press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning revealed, \"We have put 53 percent of the treatable sandy land under effective treatment,\" underscoring China's commitment to battling land degradation.
The cornerstone of China's efforts is the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP), an ambitious ecological conservation project launched in 1978 and slated to continue until 2050. This initiative has successfully expanded afforestation areas by 32 million hectares and is projected to cover over 4 million square kilometers across 13 provinces by 2050, representing 42.4 percent of China's total land area.
China, one of the most affected nations by desertification, is home to the world's second-largest drifting desert, the Taklimakan, spanning 337,600 square kilometers. To mitigate its impact, local authorities in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have established a sand-blocking green belt stretching 3,046 kilometers, effectively encircling the \"Sea of Death.\"
This year marks the 30th anniversary of China signing the UNCCD. The upcoming COP16, themed \"Our Land,\" will provide a platform for China to highlight its successful land restoration efforts and share insights with the global community.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
