How China Turned the Desert Green (and why it went wrong)

The Great Green Wall of China is the largest afforestation project in the world with over 66 billion trees planted in an effort to combat the expansion of the Gobi Desert, but it’s not all black and white. Regardless of intention, when done improperly projects like this can have a devastating impact on local ecosystems, and at this scale it’s safe to say that success or failure will have global consequences.

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⏱️TIMESTAMPS⏱️

0:00 Intro
0:25 Why it started
0:51 The plan
1:17 The Problems
3:12 Assisted Natural Regeneration
4:00 Desert Ecosystems
5:13 A Change of Approach


ABOUT THIS VIDEO
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China has been fighting against desertification since at least the 1950s after a long period of unsustainable growth. 27% of the country is covered by deserts, and in the year 2000 the Gobi Desert was estimated to be expanding at a rate of 10,400 square km a year. With farmland rapidly becoming desert and an ever-growing population, it was clear that a future famine was inevitable unless immediate action was taken.

So in 1978 the Chinese government drew up a plan. A wall of trees, around 4500 kilometres long, built to block the expansion of the desert, shield against sandstorms and offset the country’s carbon emissions.

Was it a good idea? Let us know in the comments below!

#GreatGreenWall