China has intensified efforts to protect and restore grasslands during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), leading to an overall improvement in grassland ecological conditions, according to the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA).

Nationwide, the area of degraded grassland has been reduced at an annual rate of more than 46 million mu (nearly 3.1 million hectares). The combined area of healthy and sub-healthy grasslands has expanded to 2.7 billion mu (180 million hectares), accounting for over 70 percent of the country's total grassland area.

China has nearly 4 billion mu (nearly 267 million hectares) of grassland, accounting for about 27 percent of its total land area, the largest grassland area in the world. Grasslands are a vital component of the country's ecosystems and natural resources, playing a fundamental and strategic role in safeguarding ecological security, maintaining border stability, promoting ethnic unity and supporting sustainable socio-economic development.

Over the past five years, China has stepped up grassland restoration, with the total area of degraded grassland reduced by nearly 280 million mu (nearly 18.7 million hectares). Each year, more than 100 million mu (nearly 6.7 million hectares) of grassland have been treated for pest and disease control, while overall vegetation coverage has been maintained at above 50 percent.

China has also promoted the development of modern grassland industries. Grass seed production has expanded steadily, with 600,000 mu (40,000 hectares) of grass seed breeding bases established nationwide. The annual supply capacity of perennial ecological grass seeds has reached 25,000 tonnes, easing long-standing supply constraints. Efforts have also been made to advance the construction of grassland parks and state-owned grasslands, supporting more coordinated and integrated development of the sector.

Looking ahead, the NFGA will continue to advance integrated conservation and systematic management across mountains, rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grasslands and deserts. China will further strengthen grassland protection and restoration, sustain the downward trend in grassland degradation, expand modern grassland industries, and enhance the diversity, stability and long-term resilience of grassland ecosystems.

For more: Grassland protection and restoration in the 15th Five-Year Plan