China's Great Green Wall Against Desertification

“Seek knowledge, even if it is in China”—a famous saying in Islamic culture—carries a noble message calling for the pursuit of knowledge and learning, no matter how great the distance or how great the difficulty. In China, alongside its most famous archaeological landmark, the Great Wall, the government is now undertaking a project no less magnificent, dubbed the Great Green Wall. It is a massive afforestation project aimed at planting trees and wild plants to combat desertification and halt the encroachment of sand from the southern deserts toward agricultural areas. The project was launched in 1978 under the name of the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program and will continue until 2050. It involves the creation of green belts stretching across 13 provinces in northern China, covering vast areas. These belts include various species of local and imported trees and plants, carefully selected for their heat tolerance and low water requirements, to serve as a natural barrier against sand and storms. The project has achieved remarkable success in halting the expansion of the Gobi Desert, improving air quality, and increasing green spaces in affected areas. It has also helped restore vast areas of degraded land and reduce the impact of sandstorms. However, it still faces major challenges, most notably water scarcity and harsh climatic conditions, which require continued support and resources to achieve its goals. One of the modern approaches China has adopted to combat desertification is the increasing installation of solar farms in desert regions as part of integrated environmental efforts. These farms not only contribute to boosting renewable energy capacity but also help stabilize the landscape, as the shade provided by solar panels reduces the harsh impact of the sun on the soil, creating more favorable conditions for plant growth and helping to limit soil erosion. It has also been documented that solar panels reduce wind speed at ground level, limiting the movement of sand dunes—as is the case in some areas of Kuwait, such as the roads in Al-Wafra—and in many instances, natural grass has begun to grow beneath the panels, contributing to soil stabilization and supporting the local ecosystem. To stabilize the sand and allow seedlings to grow, artificial shade nets were installed in a grid pattern to trap the sand and provide a suitable environment that helps seedlings adapt and grow better. According to a report issued by the Chinese government, after 46 years of continuous work, the 3,000-kilometer-long Green Belt was completed, and at least 30 million hectares (10,000 square meters) of trees were planted, leading to a significant reduction in the severity of dust storms, particularly in places like Beijing. These forests have helped stabilize the soil and mitigate the intensity of sandstorms. The project’s impact is not limited to environmental aspects alone but extends to improving the livelihoods of local residents and providing new economic opportunities in areas affected by desertification. It is part of China’s broader efforts to combat climate change and reduce environmental degradation. In Kuwait, initiatives have emerged from donors to revive the desert and preserve the environment. These efforts deserve support and encouragement through the provision of necessary funding, alongside learning from the Chinese experience by conducting field visits to the Green Belt project there, to transfer their expertise and apply it in a way that suits the local environment.