For the past 45 years, China’s Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (also known as the Three North Project) has been making substantial strides in the fight against desertification. Notably, the creation of 3.2 million hectares of greenery has effectively halted the encroachment of desert landscapes into key residential areas, according to a recent news conference focusing on the modernization of the harmony between people and nature.
The ambitious Three North Project was initiated to combat the expanding desert areas in the country’s northwest, north, and northeast regions. Over the last three decades, desertification in 34 million hectares has been mitigated, and an impressive 85 million hectares of degraded grasslands have been restored, as highlighted by Guan Zhou, Director of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the National Park Administration.
Guan emphasized that, while current achievements are commendable, additional efforts should be concentrated on sand control across three crucial regions, encompassing 11 provinces and autonomous areas in northern China.
Wang Guanghua, Minister of Natural Resources, outlined future environmental conservation goals. By the end of 2025, it is anticipated that over two million hectares of land will undergo ecological preservation and restoration. Moreover, marine biological protection and restoration projects will be launched, targeting the rehabilitation of 400 kilometers of coastline and 190,000 hectares of coastal wetlands.
Regarding national park construction, Guan declared that “The first batch of national park construction has achieved significant results.” One noteworthy success story is the Sanjiangyuan National Park, which safeguards the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang rivers. Currently, woodland and grass cover exceeds 74 percent of the area, and the Tibetan antelope population has surged to over 70,000.
Guan revealed that China’s national park blueprint includes 49 candidate sites, covering 10.3 percent of the country’s land area and conserving over 80 percent of the nationally protected wildlife species and their habitats.
The focus for the future will be three-fold: implementing the National Park Law, ensuring high-quality development of existing national parks, and actively encouraging the establishment of new national parks. Through these efforts, China aims to continue its progress in environmental conservation, setting an example for sustainable development globally.
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