Forest restoration program greenifies northern China

Forty of the total 68 projects of the Three-North Shelter Forest Program have started operations, with the finishing of the plantation of trees and grass covering 1.33 million hectares, an official with the National Forestry and Grassland Administration said on Thursday.

Launched in 1978, the Three-North Shelter Forest Program aims to plant trees across 13 provinces in northern China by 2050 to fight against desertification.

Zhang Wei, director of the administration's Department of Ecology, said the Three-North Shelter Forest Program has transformed from an industry-specific program led by the forestry and grassland authorities to a task of top officials from local governments and Party committees.

Local authorities across different provinces are urged to coordinate the ecological protection and restoration of forests, grasslands, wetlands and deserts, drafting documents and setting reasonable targets, Zhang said at a news conference.

Joint prevention and control around the Mu Us Desert are conducted across four provinces and regions including Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, and provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu.

Gansu and Inner Mongolia are building four major defense lines to prevent the Badain Jaran and Tengger deserts from connecting with each other, he said.

The focus has shifted towards both greening and enhancing quality, scientifically carrying out restoration of degraded forests and grasslands, Zhang said.

Local authorities are expected to implement the cultivation of young forests and precisely enhance forest quality, while strengthening the management and protection of newly planted trees.

Innovative models such as photovoltaic sand control and the cooperation between governments and enterprises should be explored, he added.

This year, Inner Mongolia has issued a plan to promote the integration of sand control and photovoltaic energy, aiming to manage 150,000 hectares of sandy land through new energy.

Enterprises involved in generating photovoltaic power are required to take responsibilities of ecological management, Zhang said.