China Hopes 'Straw Checkerboards' Will Keep Desert at Bay
China is combining massive reforestation and 'straw checkerboards' to combat desertification and stabilize its landscape.
📍 The outcome
China utilized straw checkerboards and planted billions of trees as part of the Green Great Wall to hold back two deserts. While the planted forests gained leaf cover faster than natural woodland, scientists still issued a desert warning.
Epilogue added 45d ago, after coverage quieted.
Where it stands
China has planted 66 billion trees since 1978 as part of the 'Green Great Wall' initiative to hold back two deserts. New reports indicate these planted forests are gaining leaf cover faster than the country's natural woodland.
Coverage from Space Daily, ZME Science, and MassLive emphasizes the rapid growth of these forests and an unexpected advantage discovered by scientists. However, AOL.com reports that scientists have still issued a desert warning despite the success of the initiative.
Future developments focus on the effectiveness of 'straw checkerboards' as a method to keep the desert at bay, according to Newser.
Synthesized by Newsylist from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 45d ago.
Who reported it (5)
- The Great Green Wall: Billions of trees seem to be growing faster than average MassLive · 47d ago
- Scientists issue desert warning in China despite success of the ‘Green Great Wall’ AOL.com · 47d ago
- Since 1978, China has planted 66 billion trees to hold back two deserts, and the planted forest is now gaining leaf cover faster than the country's natural woodland Space Daily · 47d ago
- China Planted Billions of Trees and Scientists Just Found an Unexpected Advantage of These New Forests ZME Science · 47d ago
- China Hopes 'Straw Checkerboards' Will Keep Desert at Bay Newser · 47d ago broke it first
Answered
How many trees has China planted since 1978?
China has planted 66 billion trees to hold back two deserts.
How do the planted forests compare to natural woodland?
The planted forests are gaining leaf cover faster than the country's natural woodland.
Is the 'Green Great Wall' completely successful?
While there have been successes, scientists have still issued a desert warning.
Momentum
How fast coverage is spreading — measured hourly from article rate × source diversity. How this works →
People, places & organizations
Topics
Related trends
Joshua Wong admits instigating sanctions against Beijing, Hong Kong governments
Joshua Wong’s guilty plea on sanction‑driving collusion flips the protest icon into a legal casualty, rattling Hong Kong’s dissent.
Typhoon Narra wreaks havoc in China, Vietnam as rains lead to floods
Typhoon Narra triggers widespread flooding across parts of China and Vietnam, stranding residents and prompting emergency evacuations.
A powerful country on the other side of the world is quietly shaping Trump's latest trade fight
5 articles track international trade tensions involving Canada, the United States, India, China, and shifting global security dynamics.
Robot horse and rider steal the spotlight at Chinese conference
A robotic horse and rider grabbed attention at a Chinese conference, standing out among machines that box, mix drinks, and rock.
China Evergrande founder sentenced to life in prison
Evergrande’s founder receives a life sentence, sending shockwaves through China’s property market and creditor landscape.
China completes first stage of work at disputed South China Sea reef, images show
5 outlets report that China has completed the first stage of construction at Antelope Reef in the South China Sea, according to images.