China Shifts Desert Strategy to Long-Term Forest Resilience

The Government of China is shifting its desertification strategy along the Maowusu Desert in Shaanxi Province, moving from initial greening efforts toward long-term forest resilience and economic integration. This transition is part of the national Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, which since 2023 has prioritized systematic restoration to address species vulnerability and aging poplar forests.

Restoration efforts in Dingbian County began in 1986 when Shi Guangyin led villagers to treat 250,000 mu of sandy and saline-alkali land. This foundational work contributed to a broader regional transformation in Yulin, where forest coverage increased from 1.8 percent in 1949 to 34.8 percent.

A new generation of workers, led by Shi Jianyang, now integrates technology into the process. By employing drones, remote irrigation, and mechanized equipment, the team has increased sapling survival rates to 92%. The initiative now links ecological maintenance to local livelihoods through e-commerce, greenhouse farming, and the development of sandy-soil potato seedlings, benefiting more than 2,000 residents.