China has achieved remarkable results in the comprehensive prevention and control of desertification and in fulfilling its international commitments.

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　　This year marks the 30th anniversary of China’s signing of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. The 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention was held in Saudi Arabia from December 2 to 13, representing the first time China has showcased and promoted its efforts to combat desertification and the “Three-North” Shelterbelt Project abroad. To date, 53 percent of China’s treatable desertified land has been effectively restored, with a net reduction of 65 million mu in desertified areas. China has also taken the lead globally in achieving “zero growth” in land degradation and a dual reduction in both desertified and sandy lands.

　　To date, 53% of China’s treatable desertified land has been effectively restored, with a net reduction of 65 million mu in desertified area. The country has taken the lead globally in achieving “zero growth” in land degradation and a dual reduction in both desertification and sandification. In 2024, the Three-North Shelterbelt Project advanced 287 key projects and completed construction on 57 million mu of land. Recently, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration held a press conference on combating desertification, highlighting the comprehensive achievements of China’s efforts to prevent and control this environmental challenge.

　　From December 2 to 13, the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”) was held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The China Pavilion, with a total area of 608 square meters, is the largest national pavilion after that of the host country. It will host an exhibition on China’s efforts to combat desertification and organize a series of side events for exchange and dialogue. This marks the first time China has showcased and promoted its work on combating desertification and advancing the Three-North Shelterbelt Project outside its own borders.

　　 Protecting the ecosystem and improving people’s livelihoods have entered a virtuous cycle.

　　China is one of the countries with the largest area of desertification, the highest number of people affected, and the most severe wind‑sand hazards in the world. Huang Caiyi, Director-General of the Desertification Control Department of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, stated that for a long time, China has regarded sand control and desertification prevention as its primary task. After more than four decades of unremitting efforts, China has successfully forged a path of sand control and desertification prevention with Chinese characteristics, achieving remarkable accomplishments that have drawn worldwide attention. Ecological conservation and improvements in people’s livelihoods have entered a virtuous cycle, while the economic and social development and ecological conditions in desertified areas have undergone profound transformations. As a result, China has become the country that has contributed the most to global greening and an international model for sand control and desertification prevention.

　　Key projects have been organized and implemented, leading to a marked improvement in the ecological conditions of sandy areas. In June last year, the decisive battle for the “Three-North” Shelterbelt Project was fully launched, and over the past year and more, efforts to address desertification have continued to intensify. “This year, the central government has allocated 32 billion yuan, initiated 287 priority projects, and assigned construction tasks covering 109 million mu,” said Liu Bing, Director-General of the Three-North Bureau of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. He added that the Administration has taken the lead in coordinating relevant provinces to carry out joint prevention and control, formulating and deploying more than ten inter-provincial collaborative initiatives, and promoting integrated protection and restoration that spans upwind and downwind areas, the edges of deserts and their hinterlands, as well as sand source zones and sand‑transport corridors.

　　Huang Caiyi stated that a series of key projects—including the construction of the “Three-North” Shelterbelt System, the management of wind‑blown sand sources in the Beijing–Tianjin region, and the protection and restoration of desertified land under closed‑off management—have scientifically safeguarded 538 million mu of desertified land and effectively treated 118 million mu. In the “Three-North” project area, forest coverage has increased from 12.41% to 13.84%, 61% of areas affected by soil and water loss are now under effective control, and the vegetation‑cover “green line” in the Yellow River Basin has shifted westward by 300 kilometers. Over the past decade, the frequency of severe spring dust storms in northern China has declined markedly.

　　Combining sand control with poverty alleviation has yielded new achievements in the economic and social development of sandy areas. “Localities have adhered to the principles of industrializing ecological conservation and ecologizing industrial development, leveraging the unique resources of these regions to moderately expand industries such as traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, high-quality forage, economic forest and fruit crops, and desert tourism. In areas like the Loess Plateau, the Yanshan Mountains, and the oases of Xinjiang, a number of production bases have been established for forestry and fruit products, melons and fruits, and woody oilseed crops, with an annual output of 48 million tons of dried and fresh fruits,” said Huang Caiyi.

　 　Technological innovation provides strong support for combating desertification.

　　Adhering to the principle of “water‑based greening,” we have selected and promoted tree and grass species that are drought‑tolerant, tolerant of poor soils, and resistant to wind and sand, while scientifically optimizing the composition of forest and grassland vegetation. We have established 26 desert ecosystem research stations and 13 ground‑based sandstorm monitoring stations, and organized comprehensive surveys and monitoring of forests, grasslands, wetlands, and deserts. Meanwhile, we have accelerated the mechanization and intelligentization of sand control and desertification prevention, with equipment and technologies such as sand‑stabilizing machinery, shrub‑pruning machines, and drone‑assisted seeding now widely deployed. Technological innovation provides robust support for sand control and desertification prevention in the new era, as well as for the construction of the Three‑North Shelterbelt Project.

　　The Sanbei Engineering Research Institute, established last year, focuses on the scientific and technological needs of the “Three-North” Project, actively conducts research to tackle key technological challenges, and provides strategic advisory services, achieving notable results.

　　Targeting the most challenging and bottleneck issues in ecological governance, a suite of critical emergency‑response technologies has been developed. “In the area of ecological irrigation water use, we convened a strategic symposium on ecological water allocation for the Three‑North Project, proposing to alleviate water shortages through both ‘increasing supply’ and ‘reducing demand,’” explained Lu Qi, Chief Scientist at the Chinese Academy of Forestry and Director of the Three‑North Project Research Institute. “‘Increasing supply’ means securing additional ecological irrigation‑water quotas; ‘reducing demand’ involves developing and deploying cutting‑edge technologies for utilizing non‑conventional water sources—such as reclaimed water, brackish water, and mine‑pit water—and promoting water‑saving afforestation practices.” Regarding the restoration of aging and degraded forests, a systematic framework has been put forward for grading, classifying, and zoning such stands. In addition, research has been conducted on the 150‑year dynamics and trends of desertification in China, resulting in the world’s first high‑resolution map of temperate savanna ecosystems. A comprehensive baseline ecological survey of the entire Three‑North region has also been carried out, and a series of site‑selection plans for joint prevention and control projects have been formulated.

　 　Contributing China’s strength to global desertification prevention and environmental governance.

　　Desertification is a common challenge facing humanity, and its prevention and control is a long-term and arduous undertaking. This year marks the 30th anniversary of China’s accession to the Convention.

　　“Our country has earnestly fulfilled its obligations under the Convention, established the China Office for Implementing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, formulated a national action plan for implementation, and actively participated in global efforts to combat desertification. The Three-North Shelterbelt Project was awarded the ‘Global 500’ prize by the United Nations Environment Programme. Furthermore, the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification has twice presented our country with the ‘Outstanding Contribution Award for Combating Desertification,’ praising China as a leader in the global fight against desertification,” said Huang Caiyi.

　　Huang Caiyi stated that, since the adoption of the Convention, China has promoted the establishment of regional implementation mechanisms, hosted the Asian Ministerial Conference on Desertification Control and the Asia–Africa Conference on Desertification Control, and advanced concrete cooperation and action at the regional level. China has also actively championed global public awareness‑raising, proposed and helped secure a resolution at the Conference of the Parties calling for the annual designation of a global theme to mark World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, and organized commemorative events. Furthermore, China successfully hosted the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, achieving substantial outcomes.

　　The sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention is themed “Our Land, Our Future.” The conference will focus on land restoration, drought resilience, the sustainable development agenda, and a people-centered approach. It will review progress in implementing the Convention’s Strategic Framework for 2018–2030, the core budget of the Convention Secretariat, and other issues, and is expected to adopt more than 30 resolutions—ranging from the adoption of a global target for land degradation neutrality beyond 2030, to expanding the scope of affected countries to all Parties, and to achieving substantive breakthroughs on drought-related matters, according to Huang Caiyi.

　　“Going forward, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration will vigorously advance desertification control efforts, with the Three-North Shelterbelt Project as the cornerstone, earnestly implement the Convention, strive to achieve new breakthroughs in sand prevention and control in the new era, and contribute China’s strength to global efforts to address environmental challenges posed by desertification,” said Huang Caiyi.

　　People’s Daily (December 2, 2024, Page 11)

(Editor: Yue Hongbin, Niu Yong)

Source: People's Daily Online – People's Daily