China has surrounded its largest desert with a massive green belt
By admin, Kasım 30, 2024
See Full Size China is the second largest mobile desert in the world Taklamakan Desert3,050 kilometers long greengeneration and achieved an environmental miracle by surrounding it with solar-powered sand blocking technology. With the massive project, China aims to stop the spread of desertification, protect infrastructure and increase regional economic opportunities.
Green Solution to the “Sea of Death”
Taklamakan Desert, called the “Sea of Death”, covers a huge area of 337,600 square kilometers, 85 percent of which is covered with moving dunes. This desert has been threatening weather conditions, agriculture, economy and human health with sandstorms for many years.
See Full Size Lei Qiang, a researcher at the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that the wind and sand movement at the edge of the desert is strong and the dunes are expanding outwards. To combat these problems, the edges of the desert are surrounded by green belts and solar sand control measures.that they locked” he said. These measures not only protect the fragile ecology, but also vital infrastructure such as railways and roads.
40 years of historical struggle
See Full Size The first 2,761 kilometers of the project, 1978’de It was completed with more than 40 years of work. The last 285 kilometers were implemented with intensive work that started in November 2022 and took place with the participation of a huge team of 600,000 people. Resistant to desert environment desert poplar, red willow and magpie trees Plants such as were planted. In this process More than 30 million hectares of trees have been planted. Reforestation efforts in the arid northwest have helped China’s total forest cover rise to more than 25 percent by the end of last year. This rate was around 10 percent in 1949.
See Full Size Authorities stated that the poplar forests at the northern end of the desert will be revitalized by diverting flood waters, while new forest networks will be established to protect agricultural lands and orchards at the western end. Despite all efforts, 26.8 percent of the country’s total land is still classified as “desertified”. This rate was 27.2 percent compared to ten years ago.
On the other hand, the green belt not only prevents the expansion of the desert but also stimulates economic opportunities. Lei emphasized that some planted species, such as medicinal desert hyacinth, can provide economic benefits for the region.
It will also produce energy
See Full Size The created green belt also enabled the creation of the world’s first railway loop, the Hotan-Ruoqiang railway, which will be operational in 2022 and completely circumnavigate the desert. This line facilitates the transportation of local products such as walnuts and red dates to other parts of China. In the Taklamakan Desert more energy Development work continues. China Three Gorges Corporationexpected to be completed within four years 8.5 gigawatts of solar energy and 4 gigawatts of wind plans to build a huge energy project containing energy.
