Context: China’s Three-North Shelterbelt Programme, popularly called the Great Green Wall, has helped slow desert expansion and increase vegetation cover in northern China. However, scientists caution that sustained ecological restoration and long-term monitoring remain essential.
Explanation
- The Three-North Shelterbelt Programme (TNSFP), launched in 1978, is the world’s largest afforestation programme and is scheduled for completion by 2050.
- It spans 13 provinces/regions across northern, northeastern, and northwestern China and targets the expansion of the Gobi Desert, Taklamakan Desert, and other arid regions.
- The programme employs the Straw Checkerboard Technique, in which straw is placed in square grids to stabilize sand dunes, reduce wind erosion, retain soil moisture, and improve sapling survival.
- China has reported that desertified land has reduced by over 1,000 sq km annually since 2000, while forest cover increased from about 5% (1978) to around 14% (2022) in the project region.
- The initiative contributes to China’s commitments under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and promotes sustainable land management.
- UNCCS remains the only legally binding international agreement dedicated exclusively to combating desertification, land degradation, and drought (DLDD).
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2026 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
◉ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
◉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040