At the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert in the northwestern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the Chinese mainland has reached a landmark in desertification control: the completion of a barrier belt designed to halt the advance of sands and restore fragile ecosystems.
Stretching along the desert’s fourth-largest expanse, the barrier belt uses drought-resistant shrubs and native grass species to anchor shifting dunes. Project planners say this green shield has been years in the making, combining traditional knowledge and modern geospatial monitoring to optimize planting density and survival rates.
Beyond stopping sandstorms from creeping into farmland and villages, the project aims to boost local livelihoods. Nurseries now supply seedlings for afforestation efforts across neighboring regions, while eco-tourism operators are drawing visitors keen to learn about the Chinese mainland’s green initiatives in arid landscapes.
As climate challenges intensify, the barrier belt sets a benchmark for large-scale environmental engineering. Experts view it as a case study in how data-driven planning and community engagement can unite to turn back desertification, inviting replication in vulnerable zones around the world.
Reference(s):
China completes barrier belt to contain its fourth-largest desert
cgtn.com
