BEIJING — China has successfully concluded a 46-year endeavor to establish a green belt around the Taklamakan Desert. This monumental project, part of the nation's broader effort to combat desertification and mitigate the impact of recurring sandstorms, was officially completed on Thursday, November 29th.

The "Great Green Wall," as it's often called, is a vast network of trees spanning approximately 3,000 kilometers. The final 100 meters of this green barrier were planted along the desert's southern edge in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.

Initiated in 1978 as part of the "Three-North Shelterbelt" project, this ambitious undertaking has involved planting over 30 million hectares of trees. The project's success has significantly contributed to China's overall forest coverage, which has increased from 10% in 1949 to over 25% by the end of 2022.

In the specific case of Xinjiang, forest coverage has surged from a mere 1% to 5% over the past four decades.

While the project has made significant strides, critics argue that low survival rates of planted trees and ongoing sandstorm occurrences, including those reaching Beijing, raise questions about its overall effectiveness. Despite these concerns, the completion of the Taklamakan Desert green belt remains a significant milestone in China's environmental efforts.