China Plants 78 Billion Trees, Forest Cover Rises to 25%

BEIJING: China has planted around 78 billion trees by 2024 as part of decades-long efforts to combat desertification, soil erosion and dust storms, significantly expanding the country’s forest cover.

According to a report by Popular Mechanics, China launched large-scale tree-planting programmes in 1978 to curb the spread of deserts, protect soil and reduce the impact of dust storms.

The report said China’s forest coverage has increased substantially over the decades. Forests accounted for around 10% of the country’s land area in 1949, rising to approximately 25% by 2024.

China’s extensive afforestation drive is considered one of the world’s largest environmental restoration efforts. The government has implemented a range of programmes to restore forests, increase vegetation in degraded areas and establish green belts in regions vulnerable to desertification.

According to Popular Mechanics, the large-scale expansion of vegetation has also had some impact on the natural water cycle in certain parts of the country. Researchers said increased vegetation can raise evapotranspiration, potentially putting additional pressure on water availability in some arid regions.

Experts say China’s experience demonstrates the potential of large-scale afforestation to improve the environment, protect land and combat desertification, while also highlighting the need to consider local climate conditions and water availability when planning future tree-planting projects.