China’s ambitious ecological project, known as the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program or the “Great Green Wall,” continues to show significant progress more than four decades after its launch in 1978. Covering 13 provincial-level regions across northwestern, northern, and northeastern China, the program has aimed to combat desertification and soil erosion over nearly 40 percent of the country’s land area.

By 2023, forest coverage in the regions targeted by the program increased from around 5 percent to approximately 14 percent, while soil erosion reportedly dropped by two-thirds. This advancement is credited to sustained government funding and long-term strategies that encourage local participation and investment, distinguishing China’s approach from many similar projects globally that falter due to inconsistent financing and short-term commitments.

Researchers highlighted the program’s success in recent reports published ahead of World Environment Day on June 5. These analyses point to China’s use of incentive mechanisms that create a predictable flow of resources, allowing local people and businesses to engage extensively in restoration efforts. In the Kubuqi Desert, for example, enterprises and herders benefit from low-interest loans and tax reductions to support sand control initiatives. Since 2010, these measures have attracted investments exceeding 3 billion yuan (about $443 million).

The program also incorporates work-relief projects aimed at providing short-term income opportunities for vulnerable communities, further embedding the restoration efforts within local socioeconomic frameworks. Lu Qi, chief scientist at the Chinese Academy of Forestry, emphasized the strong local enthusiasm during his visits to the Inner Mongolia autonomous region earlier this year. Despite early-season cold weather, restoration work commenced promptly at the end of February, driven by the shared goal of creating a more sustainable living environment alongside government policies that help farmers and herders recognize direct benefits.

While China’s model has been effective domestically, experts caution against direct transplantation of its financial strategies to other countries with different legal systems and fiscal capacities. Qin Anpin, in a discussion published alongside the research, noted that elevating desert control from short-term projects to long-term government obligations is a vital first step for other nations. Moreover, external aid should serve to complement and mobilize domestic funding rather than function as isolated financial injections.

In addition to afforestation, China is integrating renewable energy infrastructure with ecological restoration to enhance overall sustainability and resilience. This multifaceted approach underlines the country’s commitment to addressing desertification challenges amid global environmental shifts, including the concern that drylands already cover nearly 40 percent of the Earth’s land surface—a figure that may rise further due to climate change.