Green Wall over the Desert: how China quietly changes the scenery of Africa and Asia

In a time of climate change, erstwhile the planet is discussing reducing CO2 emissions and moving to renewable energy sources, China has a quiet but highly effective ecological revolution. This is not about spectacular space projects or giant wind farms, but about combating desertification – a problem that affects both Asia and Africa.

By combining ancient wisdom, modern technology and patience, China is becoming a global leader in afforestation and restoration of ecosystems.

Afforestation of China: from desert to green

Since the 1950s, China has undertaken a monumental task of combating desertification. According to FAO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation), between 1950 and 2024 China has increased the forest area by more than 50 million hectares. It's the equivalent of Spain's surface area! 1 of the top achievements is the task “Green Belt of Takla Makan”, which surrounds China's largest desert – Takla Makan. As reported South China Morning Post, China surrounded this desert with a green strip of over 3000 km long, which importantly reduced the spread of sands.

Lei Jiaqiang, an environmentalist from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, emphasizes that the key to success is to combine conventional methods specified as “sandnets” (1m×1m straw sand stabilizers), with modern technologies. This enabled us not only to halt desertification, but besides to reconstruct life in areas that were considered dead respective decades ago.

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African Green Wall: Chinese contribution

However, China is not limited to its own yard. In Africa, as part of the large Green Wall project, China helps build a green belt of 7700 km long, from Senegal to Djibouti. As Stephen Chen describes in his article, the Chinese introduce drought-resistant plant species specified as tamarish, and supply local communities with cognition of desert farming through platforms specified as TikTok.

W Ethiopia Chinese methods, specified as “fish shell pits”, have helped recover pastures absorbed by invasive shrubs. In Senegal, solar panels modelled on Chinese farms from the Kubuqi Desert supply villages, and in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the first strategy of “desert aquariums” was created, utilizing salt water for fish farming and vegetable cultivation.

Why aren't these actions publicized?

Despite awesome achievements, these projects seldom scope the front pages of newspapers. Why? Firstly, China prefers “the camel approach” – slow, methodical and adapted to local conditions. They don't hold spectacular press conferences, they don't print hundreds of pages of reports. Instead, they focus on effects that are frequently seen only after years.

Secondly, the Western media is dominated by the communicative of “Chinese neocolonialism” and “debt traps”. Organic projects that do not bring immediate profits are frequently overlooked or treated as “greenwashing”. Meanwhile, as Chen notes, while the European Union is debating climate reparations, Chinese teams are already rebuilding ecosystems.

Chinese action in combating desertification is an example of how a combination of tradition, technology and patience can bring real change. Although these projects are not publicised, their effects are awesome – both in China and Africa. possibly that is why they do not go to the front pages of newspapers: due to the fact that real change frequently happens in silence, distant from cameras and political disputes. As Lao Tzu utilized to say: “Great skills seem clumsy.” Or possibly just patient.

Source:

1. Stephen Chen, The Green large Wall: China’s Quiet Environmental Revolution, 2024.
2. South China Morning Post, “Great Wall of Tamlamakan: China surrounds its largest dessert with garant green belt”, 2023.
3. FAO, Global Forest Resources Assessment, 2024.
4. Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Desert Control and Rehabilitation, 2023.
   

   

   Leszek B. Glass

   Email: [email protected]

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