The Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP), launched in 1978 and set to be completed by 2050, is a monumental forestry ecological project aimed at combating desertification in China. This cross-century program consists of eight phases of work and is currently in its sixth phase.
China is among the countries most severely affected by desertification. The 'Three-North' regions, encompassing the north, northwest, and northeast of China, account for 45 percent of the country’s total land area while containing 84 percent of the desertified regions.
After over four decades of persistent efforts, the TSFP has evolved into the largest afforestation project in the world. According to the latest reports from the Chinese Ministry of Forestry and Grassland, the program has expanded 320,000 square kilometers of forested areas and over 850,000 square kilometers of grassland. The forest coverage rate in TSFP-covered areas has increased from 5.05 percent to 13.84 percent, while degraded grasslands have decreased from 85 percent to about 70 percent, marking a significant transformation from critical desertification.
These achievements highlight the outstanding impact of the TSFP in rejuvenating China’s landscapes and combating environmental challenges over decades.
Reference(s):
Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program 46 Years on: Green up the land
cgtn.com
