China’s ‘Green Scarf’: Winning the Battle Against the Taklimakan Desert

Have you ever heard of a desert so big that it’s called the “Sea of Death”? 😮 In northwest China, there’s the enormous Taklimakan Desert, the largest in the country! Its sands have been causing trouble for centuries, creeping into towns and oases with the wind.

But guess what? China is fighting back with a special project that’s like weaving a giant green scarf around the desert! 🧣🌳 It’s called the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, and it’s been going on for over 40 years!

So far, they’ve planted a 2,761-kilometer-long green belt of trees and plants around the Taklimakan Desert. That’s like driving from London to Athens! 🚗 Now, there’s just 285 kilometers left to complete the scarf, and they’re hoping to finish it this year!

But how do they decide which plants to use? Scientists are working deep in the desert at a special botanical garden 🌸. They’ve spent years finding tough plants like winterberry euonymus and Fraxinus bungeana that can survive in sandy conditions. These plants become the desert’s guardians, holding the sand in place!

Not only that, but they’re also planting crops that can handle the desert weather. 🌽 Farmers are growing desert-tolerant corn, alfalfa for animal feed, and Chinese jujube trees for sweet fruits! This helps stop the sand and gives local people a way to earn money. It’s a win-win situation! 💪💰

But wait, there’s more! They’ve even started using solar panels ☀️ to help. The panels act like shields against the wind, reducing the amount of sand that moves around. Plus, they generate clean energy at the same time! How cool is that?

Thanks to all these amazing efforts, the Taklimakan Desert is being kept in check, and the environment is getting healthier. It shows that with teamwork and clever ideas, we can solve big challenges! 🌍❤️

Reference(s):

Battle in the sea of sand: Weaving a "green scarf" for Xinjiang

cgtn.com