China Becomes the First Country to Achieve Zero Growth in Land Degradation

China has become the first country in the world to achieve zero growth in land degradation. During a press conference organized today by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, information was provided regarding the progress made in combating desertification.

Since June 2023, significant efforts have been made to continue the Three North Shelter Forest Program. Within this framework, 287 projects were implemented in 2024, involving afforestation and other activities across an area of 38,000 square kilometers. The situation in desertified regions is continuously improving.

China is one of the countries that has experienced the most serious desertification issues globally. Over the past 40 years, particularly since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, efforts to combat desertification have resulted in the reclamation of 53% of the country's restoreable desertified land. This has led to 43,000 square kilometers of land being saved from desertification. As a result, China has become the first country to achieve zero growth in global desertification, with a consistent decline observed in desertified and sandy areas.