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16 July 2026

China's 'Great Green Wall' desertification project

The project serves as a significant global case study for desertification control and environmental restoration, providing valuable comparative context for India's own land degradation and afforestation policies.

1 min read 2 questions 1 prelims

Notes

  • Three-North Protective Forest Program (Green Great Wall) launched in 1978 to combat desertification in northern China.
  • Technique used: 'straw checkerboards' (intersecting lines of straw sticks) to stabilize sand dunes and facilitate sapling growth.
  • Desertified land in northern China peaked in 2000 and has since decreased by over 1,000 sq. km annually.
  • Cumulative forest cover under the program reached 500,000 sq. km.
  • Total desertified land has shrunk by approximately 10% since 2000; severely or extremely desertified areas decreased by over 40%.
  • Forest cover in the program area increased from 5% in 1978 to 14% in 2022.
  • Success attributed to long-term political commitment, state investment, and the involvement of over 300 million rural labourers.
  • Environmental factors: Drought, overgrazing, and farming were primary drivers of historical degradation; recent increases in rainfall have aided restoration.

Questions

  1. Discuss the efficacy of large-scale afforestation programs in combating desertification, citing the 'Three-North Protective Forest Program' as a case study. 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. Desertification poses a significant threat to sustainable development and food security. Analyze the role of long-term state-led ecological restoration strategies in mitigating land degradation, and discuss the challenges in maintaining such environmental gains. 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. The 'straw checkerboard' technique, often used in large-scale desert control projects, is primarily designed to:

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-07-16/china-s-great-green-wall-desertification-project