Can China's Great Green Wall Stop Its Deserts From Spreading?
Summary
TLDRThe video explores China's ambitious 'Great Green Wall' project, initiated in 1978 to combat desertification by transforming desert areas into forests. The project, spanning over 88 million acres, involves large-scale tree planting and innovative techniques like liquid Nano clay and drip irrigation. Despite challenges such as water scarcity and soil infertility, the initiative has significantly increased forest coverage and reduced sandstorms, benefiting both China and neighboring countries. The video also highlights China's international collaborations and the socioeconomic impact of the project, aiming to inspire global efforts against desertification.
Takeaways
- đïž In the 1950s, China experienced rapid urbanization, leading to unchecked infrastructure development and increased vulnerability to desertification.
- đ” Desertification has claimed 15% of China's land in four decades, causing annual economic losses of around $50 billion.
- đČ The 'Great Green Wall,' officially the Three-North Shelter Forest Program, was launched in 1978 to combat desertification by transforming deserts into forests.
- đł Since the project's inception, 78.1 billion trees have been planted, increasing forest coverage in northern China and reducing sandstorms and soil erosion.
- đ§ Challenges faced by the project include water scarcity, soil infertility, and the harsh desert climate, which have affected tree survival rates.
- đ China has sought international collaboration and shared its desertification combat strategies with other countries, contributing to global ecological efforts.
- đŹ Technological innovations such as using plant cellulose paste to turn desert sands into fertile grounds and advanced irrigation techniques have been implemented.
- đ„ The project has involved both government initiatives and private contributions, highlighting the importance of collective effort in combating desertification.
- đ± The project's shift from monoculture planting to more diverse ecological solutions, including native species and natural adaptation, has been crucial for sustainability.
- đ The Great Green Wall initiative, set to be completed by 2050, not only aims to combat desertification but also has socioeconomic benefits, strengthening communities and enhancing global ecological goals.
Q & A
What prompted China to launch the Great Green Wall initiative?
-The Great Green Wall initiative was launched in response to severe desertification caused by aggressive urbanization and infrastructure development in the 1950s. This led to significant environmental issues, including wind erosion, soil and water loss, salinization, and rock desertification.
What is the primary objective of the Great Green Wall project?
-The primary objective of the Great Green Wall project is to combat desertification by transforming desert areas into green forests, thereby preventing the expansion of deserts like the Gobi Desert and reducing the impact of dust storms.
How extensive is the Great Green Wall project in terms of land coverage?
-The Great Green Wall project involves planting trees across 88 million acres of land surrounding the Great Wall of China, with a focus on the three Northern regions: the north, the Northeast, and the Northwest.
What were some of the challenges faced during the initial stages of the project?
-In the early stages, the project faced challenges such as harsh desert conditions, water scarcity, soil infertility, and the failure of many trees to survive due to extreme temperature fluctuations and the practice of monoculture planting.
How has the project evolved to address these challenges?
-The project evolved by adopting diverse ecological solutions, such as using seeds adapted to local ecosystems, strategic fencing of desert-prone areas, and applying innovative techniques like plant cellulose paste to transform desert sands into fertile ground.
What role do individuals and private organizations play in the Great Green Wall initiative?
-Individuals like Yin Yusen, who transformed 4,700 hectares of barren land into green fields, and private organizations like Ren, which fund climate change projects, play a crucial role in supporting and advancing the goals of the Great Green Wall initiative.
What are some of the environmental benefits observed due to the Great Green Wall project?
-The project has increased forest coverage in northern China, reduced desertification, prevented sandstorms, conserved water and soil, and revitalized ecosystems, including the restoration and expansion of wetlands.
How does the Great Green Wall project impact neighboring countries?
-The project helps mitigate the impact of dust storms that affect not only China but also neighboring countries like Japan, North Korea, and South Korea, by reducing the erosion of agricultural land and improving air quality.
What international collaborations have been formed as part of China's efforts to combat desertification?
-China has engaged in international collaborations by sharing knowledge and forming partnerships with Belt and Road countries, as well as establishing international centers dedicated to the prevention and mitigation of desertification.
What are the future goals of the Great Green Wall project?
-The Great Green Wall project aims to be completed by 2050, with goals of increasing efficiency, addressing groundwater decline, carefully considering native species, and continuing to improve forest coverage and ecosystem restoration.
Outlines
đ China's Great Green Wall Initiative: Combating Desertification
In the 1950s, China faced rapid urbanization that led to unchecked infrastructure development, which contributed to desertification and significant environmental challenges, such as wind erosion and soil loss. To counter these effects, the Chinese government launched the 'Three North Shelter Forest Program,' also known as the Great Green Wall, in 1978. This initiative aimed to transform deserts into green forests and protect a quarter of China's land area from further degradation. The project involved planting trees on 88 million acres, significantly increasing forest coverage and preventing sandstorms. Despite the project's success in revitalizing ecosystems and restoring wetlands, it still faces challenges, such as ensuring efficiency, mitigating groundwater decline, and adapting to local environmental conditions.
đł Challenges and Evolution of the Afforestation Effort
The Great Green Wall initiative faced several challenges, especially in its early stages. The desert's harsh conditions, including unstable temperatures and water scarcity, led to the failure of many newly planted trees. Initially, the project relied on monoculture planting, which had ecological risks such as soil nutrient depletion and vulnerability to pests and diseases. Critics pointed out that success required not only planting trees but also ensuring their survival and growth. In response, diverse ecological solutions were introduced, such as strategic fencing and the use of locally adapted seeds. However, these solutions raised concerns about potential impacts on climate, biodiversity, and the loss of valuable natural resources. The efforts of dedicated individuals, like Yin Yusen, and private organizations have been crucial in advancing the project, demonstrating the importance of individual responsibility and community involvement in large-scale environmental initiatives.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄDesertification
đĄGreat Green Wall
đĄThree North Shelter Forest Program
đĄWind Erosion
đĄAfforestation
đĄSalinization
đĄMonoculture Planting
đĄBiodiversity
đĄDrip Irrigation
đĄEcological Balance
Highlights
In the 1950s, China's rapid urbanization led to unchecked infrastructure development, making the nation vulnerable to desertification.
Desertification has caused annual economic losses of around $50 billion in China.
The Three-North Shelter Forest Program, also known as the Great Green Wall, was initiated in 1978 to combat desertification.
The project involves planting trees across 88 million acres of land, aiming to halt the expansion of the Gobi Desert.
China institutionalized National Tree Planting Day in 1979, leading to a nationwide movement that produced over 78.1 billion trees.
The initiative has significantly reduced desertification, prevented sandstorms, and conserved water and soil in northern China.
The Great Green Wall is expected to elevate forest coverage in northern China from 5% to 15% by 2050.
Challenges include the survival of trees in harsh desert conditions, water scarcity, and soil infertility.
Monoculture planting was initially used, but its ecological risks led to a shift toward diverse planting strategies.
Researchers developed a cellulose-based paste capable of transforming desert sands into fertile grounds, showcasing innovative solutions.
The initiative has revitalized ecosystems, covering an area equivalent to the size of Ireland with newly planted trees.
China's efforts in combating desertification have gained international attention and collaboration.
The project faces potential risks, such as groundwater decline and disruption of natural processes.
The socioeconomic impact of the initiative includes strengthening communities and demonstrating China's commitment to global ecological goals.
The Great Green Wall initiative is set to be completed by 2050, with ongoing efforts to improve efficiency and environmental considerations.
Transcripts
in the 1950s China went through rampant
urbanization which allowed room for
unchecked infrastructure development the
aggressive alteration of their natural
land made the nation vulnerable to
desertification which led to problems
like wind erosion soil and water loss
salinization and rock desertification
today these deserts threaten a quarter
of China's land area have claimed 15% of
its land in just four decades and caused
annual econ IC losses of around $50
billion the government of China trying
to find a solution to this problem
embarked on the Journey of transforming
its desert into green forests the
project is officially known as the three
North shelter Forest program otherwise
referred to as the great green wall what
is the great green wall project are they
facing any challenges in implementing it
and how does this project affect other
parts of the
world
in 1978 the great green wall initiative
was conceived as an aforestation project
it was a solution to the problem of
desertification that was going on the
initiative involved planting trees in 88
million acres of land surrounding the
Great Wall of China the government
recognized that this initiative would
take a collective effort which led to
the
institutionalization of national tree
planting day in 1979 the of March every
year is reserved for everyone to come
together and plant trees this led to a
Nationwide green movement that produced
over
78.1 billion trees in just a few decades
this project is also designed to hold
back the expansion of the GOI desert and
provide Timber to the local population
the GOI desert claims 1,400 square miles
of grassland every year the dust storms
that happen because of this are always
very severe it causes erosion of ax
approximately 800 square miles
destroying agriculture not only within
China but also in neighboring countries
like Japan North Korea and South Korea
the official name of this initiative the
three North shelter Forest program
indicates that it has to have a reach
across the three Northern regions the
north the Northeast and the Northwest
since this project started it has
strived to elevate Forest coverage in
northern China from 5 to
15% it has significant reduced
desertification prevented sandstorms and
conserve water and soil in 2003 they
began a phase in this project that
consists of two main parts the first one
is using planes to spread seeds in areas
where the soil is not too dry the second
part entails giving money to Farmers who
plant trees and shrubs in areas that are
drier than usual they plan to spend $1.2
billion to set up a system that watches
over everything including making maps
and databases the wall will have special
plants that can handle the sand the
trees will be arranged in a pattern
similar to that of a checkerboard to
steady the dunes there will also be a
Stony area situated next to the plants
to keep the sand down and help form a
crust in the soil the trees will also
help block the wind during dust storms
China started an extraordinary journey
toward a Green Revolution from 2012 to
2022 during this period there were a lot
of off forestation campaigns and they
covered a stunning area of 960 million
new which is equivalent to an impressive
64 million hectares this initiative has
not only improved Forest coverage but
has also revitalized ecosystems it has
resulted in the restoration and
expansion of 12 million Mew of wetlands
today over 66 billion trees have been
planted to put this into perspective the
land mass that these trees cover is a
equivalent to the size of Ireland as a
nation even though trees are the main
action of this initiative there are
scientific techniques that have
increased its effects researchers from
Chongqing jao Tong University have
developed a groundbreaking solution they
use plant cellulose to create a paste
that is capable of transforming Desert
Sands into fertile grounds an experiment
in the Ulen Buu desert converted 1.6
hectar of bar Wasteland into cultivable
land this is a signal for quick
agricultural potential other Innovations
in aforestation and sand control like
drip irrigation and sand barriers have
increased Forest coverage in areas like
mkin the great green wall initiative is
set to be completed by 2050 the project
faces several challenges such as
ensuring its efficiency mitigating
potential groundwater Decline and
carefully considering native species in
Environmental factors in the planting
process due to the harsh conditions of
the desert the number of trees planted
experienced an almost immediate effect
from nature the temperature was quite
unstable it goes up during the day and
comes back down at night there were also
issues of water scarcity and soil
infertility many of the trees planted
couldn't survive these drastic
conditions in the earlier days of this
initiative they practiced monoculture
planting this involves planting a lot of
the same species of plants in one area
area while this style offers advantages
in terms of scale and operational
efficiency it also has some ecological
risks this approach can drain soil
nutrients making the areas even more
open to pasts and diseases it is also
worth noting that due to the lack of
biodiversity one bug or illness May
easily wipe out tens of millions of
crops however the critics of this method
note that it involves not only planting
trees but also ensuring they survive and
flourish this brought about some diverse
ecological Solutions the areas prone to
Desert encroachment were strategically
fenced there was also the use of seeds
that are naturally adapted to local
ecosystems even these Solutions came
with their challenges it raises concerns
about potential impacts on climate
biodiversity and ecological balance for
instance the creation of barriers might
disrupt certain natural processes also
altering the land Cape might have
unforeseen consequences for local
temperatures and heat reflection
additionally deserts have their unique
mineral compositions which play a role
in the global mineral supply chain this
transformation could mean the potential
loss of these valuable natural resources
while the leaders of China have been at
the Forefront of this Green Revolution
the hard work of individuals and private
entities cannot be understated out of
the countless people who are dedicated
to this initiative Yin yusen converted
approximately 4700 hectares of barren
land in the uken banner of the semi-arid
western region of China for more than
three difficult decades into a green
field the national people's Congress saw
Xi Jinping General Secretary of the
Chinese Communist Party acknowledged Yin
for her work on aforestation yin's
efforts according to him are great
achievements that have actually improved
the whole Ecology of China this kind of
person demonstrates how essential
individual responsibility is in this
strategy during an era of immense
National trouble however there are other
organizations in the corporate world
that have identified the relevance of
engaging with these projects one such
organization is Ren Ren is a company
that focuses on funding projects that
are about combating climate change they
highlight how complex environmental
initiatives are and also encourage the
community commun to get involved the
company is taking on certain
responsibilities to contribute to the
success of this initiative they are
supporting projects that consist of
technologically advanced molecule
destruction methods they also support
more Grassroots initiatives like
collaborating with indigenous
communities to preserve and protect
invaluable rainforests desertification
is a global Challenge and the efforts
China is making to curb it have not gone
unnoticed by the rest of the world China
has actively sought International
collaboration to combat this issue they
include sharing invaluable knowledge and
insights that resulted in Partnerships
with Bel and Road countries China has
also played a very important role in
establishing International centers that
are dedicated to the prevention and
Mitigation Of desertification this
showcases its commitment to Global
ecological challenges on an
international scale there has been the
development of techniques like liquid
Nano clay which promises to transform
Sandy deserts into fertile ground there
are also Advanced Center pivot
irrigation techniques these
International methodologies if combined
with China's already existing
initiatives could potentially form a
blueprint for combating desertification
globally aside from the immediate
environmental impact of the great green
wall project the initiatives born out of
it have socioeconomic implications that
benefit community strengthen communities
and demonstrate China's dedication to
Global ecological goals do you think
China's initiative to transform its
deserts into green forests will be
successful in combating desertification
let us know in the comments section and
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