China’s decades-long “Green Great Wall” campaign is credited with slowing the expansion of desert areas in northern China, but scientists warn the long-term fight against desertification is not finished. Multiple outlets describe how, for roughly half a century, workers have used a technique known as “straw checkerboards” across shifting sands: forearm-length sticks or stakes are inserted into the ground in grid-like rows and intersecting lines, stabilizing dunes and reducing wind disturbance. Saplings are then planted at set points in each grid square, and the approach is supported by water delivered through irrigation systems in some areas.
The campaign is associated with China’s Three-North Protective Forest Program, which aims to reverse desertification and improve land conditions. Reporting also indicates that desertified land has been brought under control in parts of northern China, including in regions such as the Kubuqi Desert. However, scientists featured across the coverage caution that environmental and climatic risks remain, meaning gains could stall or erode without continued protection and management. Overall, sources agree the greening effect is real, but sustainability and ecological resilience remain key concerns.
