Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Science

China's 'Green Great Wall' tames desert growth, but scientists warn the fight is not over

For half a century, millions of workers have repeated a task across the deserts in northern China: inserting forearm-length sticks into shifting sand, first in a row, then in an intersecting line, gradually forming a grid. Then saplings are planted at the center of each small square.

China's 'Green Great Wall' tames desert growth, but scientists warn the fight is not over
Image: Phys.org
For half a century, millions of workers have repeated a task across the deserts in northern China: inserting forearm-length sticks into shifting sand, first in a row, then in an intersecting line, gradually forming a grid. Then saplings are planted at the center of each small square.

Originally published at Phys.org

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