Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program 46 Years on: Green up the land

An aerial view of Baijitan National Nature Reserve in Lingwu, Ningxia Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, April 8, 2024. It is located on the edge of Mu Us desert and are used to be barren land without any grass on the ground. After great efforts of generations, the coverage of forest rises to 41% now that can effectively block the southward expansion of the desert. /CFP

A view of populus euphratica forest scenic spot at Jinta County of Jiuquan, Gansu Province, China, October 3, 2022. It is located on the edge of Mengxin Desert and Badain Jaran Desert. Under the TSFP, near seven square kilometers of populus euphratica forest are planted to help combat desertification and at same time help boost local tourism. /CFP

A view of greening land in Kekeya, in Wensu County of Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, September 10, 2020. Kekeya is located on the northwest of Taklimakan Desert, the largest desert in China. In 1980s, local people spent nearly a quarter of the year in the dust. In 1986, Aksu region started the Kekeya afforestation project under the TSFP. After more than 30 years of efforts, afforestation of more than 800 square kilometers are built. The land turns from yellow to green and become a green barrier against wind and sand. /CFP

A view of a dairy farm in the Ulanbuh Desert, Dengkou County, Bayannur City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, July 2, 2021. Since the implementation of the TSFP in 1978, 4 phases of afforestation work have been done in Bayannur City, with a cumulative construction area of over 4400 square kilometers. /CFP

A view of Saihanba Mechanical Forestry Farm, located in Chengde, Hebei Province, China, August 2020. In last century, Saihanba was completely a desertified land. With the efforts of three generations, its coverage of forest rises from 11.4 percent to 82 percent, known as a 'green miracle' that turns wasteland to oasis. /CFP

A view of Dorbod Prairie in Dorbod Mongol Autonomous County, Daqing, Heilongjiang Province, China, August 5, 2018. Back to 1970s, Daqing was a city with raging wind and yellow sand in the air. Grassland desertification and alkaline degradation was in critical condition. With multiple afforestation measures under the TSFP, a green barrier of 89.8 kilometers long and 5 kilometers to 25 kilometers wide has been built. Now the number of days with good air quality has reached more than 340 in a year. /CFP