Taming Taklimakan Desert, Journey of Hope and Resilience

Imagine a desert so vast that its sand dunes seem to rival towering skyscrapers in height and you have an idea about the vastness of the Taklimakan Desert, China's largest desert and the world's second-largest shifting desert.

For centuries, its sand swallowed up ancient towns and threatened livelihoods, but today, a different story has unfolded, a story of human determination to "lock the desert."

In the 1990s, China built its first desert highway across the Taklimakan. To prevent the shifting sand from engulfing the road, a protective forest belt was grown alongside it. Fast forward to today, the Taklimakan Desert is crisscrossed by four major highways.

On November 28, China achieved a significant milestone in its battle against desertification by completing a 3,046-km sand-blocking green belt around the Taklimakan. The green belt is a crucial component of the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, which was launched in 1978 and is scheduled for completion in 2050.

Accomplishing the "last mile" is no small feat. The desert's size is comparable to the combined areas of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian provinces. Moreover, the region's annual rainfall is often less than 10 millimeters. The fine sand particles, easily carried by strong winds, create frequent and intense sandstorms, threatening infrastructure and nearby oases.

Strategies to lock the desert

To adapt to the specific characteristics of the region, a multifaceted approach has been taken to "lock" the desert, employing three key strategies: engineering solutions, solar energy projects, and biological restoration.

In areas devoid of water resources, "magic cubes" have been introduced. These are grass grids made using locally sourced materials such as reeds and straw, which are then embedded in the sand. The grids effectively trap sand particles and reduce wind erosion, creating a protective barrier against encroaching sand.

In regions with limited water, the focus shifted to integrating renewable energy with environmental protection. Giant solar panels have been installed, playing a dual role. They generate clean energy and help to reduce wind speeds, thereby preventing the movement of sand. Also, in the shadow of these panels, drought-resistant plants are grown, further stabilizing the soil.

In areas with more abundant water, the emphasis is on restoring the ecosystem through vegetation such as the red willow and saxaul. These species are particularly effective at securing the soil, protecting water resources, and providing essential habitats for wildlife, thus revitalizing the local environment and promoting biodiversity.

As Lei Jiaqiang, a research fellow from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG), explained, the goal of "locking" is not to eliminate natural deserts but to restore degraded lands and protect oases.

Going beyond ecology

The green belt's impact extends far beyond environmental restoration.

For example, in Aksu, a city in the northwest of Xinjiang, the once barren land is now a thriving orchard producing super sweet apples, contributing over 40 billion RMB to the local economy in 2024. In Cele, a county in Xinjiang on the southern rim of the Taklimakan, farmers have even ventured into aquaculture, raising crabs in mineral-rich desert waters and making aquacultural products.

Tourism is also booming. The ancient desert poplar (Populus euphratica) forest by the side of the Tarim River, the main river in Xinjiang, is the largest of its kind in the world. It has seen a tenfold increase in visitors over the last decade, thanks to the desert highways.

"China's process is a good step to demonstrate that we can have development with sustainability. This green development is possible," said Andrea Meza Murillo, deputy executive secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Chinese wisdom recognized

The Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program is on the United Nations Environment Programme's Global 500 Roll of Honour for Environmental Achievement. The UNCCD Secretariat has also applauded China for its "outstanding contribution to combating desertification."

Murillo said, "I was really moved when I saw the images of different generations of Chinese people fighting desertification."

The use of green belts and solar-powered sand-blocking technology in the Taklimakan Desert is a big step forward in fighting desertification globally. By stopping sand from spreading and using solar power, China has set an example for similar projects in other dry areas, like Africa's Great Green Wall or efforts in the Middle East.

In 2017, the XIEG signed a memorandum of understanding with the secretariat of the Pan-African Great Green Wall to promote cooperation in ecosystem monitoring, sustainable use of land resources and technology transfer. The objective is to enhance the capacity of African countries to prevent and control desertification.

The fight against desertification continues. Behind the encirclement of the Taklimakan Desert are a people-centered approach, respect for nature and the effort of generations.

Source: Science and Technology Daily