The Taklamakan Desert in China has been transformed by a green belt and innovative sand-blocking tech, aiming to combat sandstorms, protect infrastructure, and boost the economy. Spanning 3,050km, the green belt shields against sand dunes and sandstorms, benefiting agriculture and health. The completion of this project, after 40 years of effort, entails planting diverse vegetation and signifies a global initiative against desert expansion. The region's clean energy potential is also being harnessed for sustainable development.
The Taklamakan Desert, China's largest desert and the world's second-largest sand-shifting desert, has undergone a remarkable transformation, now encircled by a vibrant green belt comprising diverse trees and shrubs alongside innovative solar-based sand blocking technology.
Situated in China's northwestern Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, an area comparable in size to Germany, this initiative serves a dual purpose: to combat sandstorms, safeguard local infrastructure, and stimulate regional economic growth.
Spanning an impressive 3,050 kilometers (1,900 miles), the green belt reached completion recently, with the final batch of various vegetation planted in Yutian county at the desert's southern periphery, as reported by state media.
Sand-shifting deserts like the Taklamakan, characterized by wind-driven sand dunes and frequent sandstorms, often pose challenges affecting weather patterns, agriculture, and public health.
Approximately 85% of the sprawling 337,600 square kilometers (130,350 square miles) desert is covered by shifting sand dunes, earning it the ominous moniker "sea of death."
Lei Qiang, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, highlighted the necessity of fortifying the desert's periphery through green belts and solar-based sand control technologies like solar panels to safeguard the ecology and critical transportation networks.
Spanning a construction period of 40 years, the initial 2,761 kilometers of the green belt were meticulously erected. Recently, efforts commenced to finalize the remaining 285 kilometers around the desert, as per state broadcaster CCTV.
A workforce of 600,000 individuals diligently planted a variety of species such as desert poplar, red willow, and saxaul trees to complete the concluding section of the belt, with certain species like the medicinal desert hyacinth showing potential for economic benefits.
This endeavor mirrors similar global efforts to counter desertification and desert expansion, exemplified by initiatives like the Great Green Wall, an 8,000-kilometer project across Africa's Sahara Desert.
In 2022, the inauguration of the Hotan-Ruoqiang railway established a crucial rail link, facilitating integration of the desert region with the rest of China, enabling the transportation of minerals and local specialties like walnuts and red dates.
Moreover, plans unveiled by the China Three Gorges Corporation in October outlined a new energy project within the Taklamakan, set to generate 8.5 gigawatts of solar power and 4 gigawatts of wind power, as per a report by The Paper. This project, slated for completion within four years, will complement existing energy storage and coal-fired power ventures.
Xinjiang, endowed with abundant clean energy sources such as solar and wind, emerged as a leader in China for new energy installed capacity in the first half of the recent year, according to the State Council.
With the completion of the Taklamakan Desert green belt, Lei emphasized the ongoing commitment to enhance its efficiency and sustainability, marking a significant milestone in environmental preservation and regional development.