One year ago, a landmark initiative saw the completion of the "Green Great Wall" along the edges of the Taklimakan Desert in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the Chinese mainland. Since then, efforts to combat desertification have accelerated, moving beyond containment to active greening.
Right now, in Moyu County, Hotan Prefecture on the southern fringe of the Taklimakan, dozens of loaders and bulldozers crisscross the vast sea of sand. These machines are leveling dunes in a race against time, as part of a 38,000-acre desert control project that is entering a key phase.
Teams are preparing the land for date tree plantations, aiming to push the frontline of greening deeper into the heart of the desert. This shift from sealing borders to cultivating oases represents a bold new chapter in the fight against land degradation.
For local communities, the initiative offers hope for sustainable livelihoods and improved resilience. As saplings take root in the shifting sands, the vast expanse of the Taklimakan is gradually being rewritten from barren wilderness to burgeoning oasis.
Stay tuned as this ambitious transformation continues to unfold, reshaping one of the world's most iconic deserts.
Reference(s):
Live: Discover China's desert transition from barren sands to oasis
cgtn.com
