March 12 marks China Tree Planting Day. China reached 3.6 million hectares of afforestation and controlled 1.44 million hectares of sandy and rocky desertification land in 2021, according to a national bulletin on land greening status released by the Office of the National Greening Committee on Friday.

The bulletin details that over 1.13 million hectares of natural forests have been tended, and 380,800 hectares and 23,900 hectares of farmland returned to forest and grassland, respectively. As to sandstorm control, it states that afforestation of 212,500 hectares has been achieved near Chinese capital city Beijing and northern city of Tianjin, for the purpose.

China passed a resolution on launching a nationwide voluntary tree-planting campaign in 1981, calling on its nationals aged 11 and above in good health to plant 3 to 5 trees a year.