By South China Morning Post | Created at 2026-07-27 06:16:46 | Updated at 2026-08-06 06:28:06
1 week ago
After decades of fighting desertification with straw, plants and plastic, Chinese researchers have turned to
bamboo – one of the most resilient and sustainable materials on the planet.
The fastest-growing plant on Earth has the potential to help overcome challenges with current sand-fixing methods including short lifespan, ecological risks and health issues.
Beijing on July 22 released a five-year conservation plan for the country’s forests and grasslands, which includes projects to be implemented under the Three-North Shelterbelt Programme by 2030.
Also known as the Great Green Wall, the programme was launched in the 1970s in a bid to curb desertification and hold back the expansion of deserts in the country’s arid northwest, north and northeast regions.
Desertification is the degradation of fertile land into desert-like land due to overgrazing, deforestation and climate change.
How is China building a great green wall to protect itself from desertification
To address the problem, China has planted a network – spanning thousands of kilometres – of shrubs, flowering plants and forests. Physical sand barriers have also been installed, including checkerboard grids made from straw.
