China’s Alshaa League halted desert expansion by restoring 100 million mu, advancing national ecological goals.

China’s Alshaa League in Inner Mongolia has treated 100 million mu (6.67 million hectares) of desertified land, a milestone in the nation’s decades-long fight against desertification. This achievement, part of the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program launched in 1978, has boosted forest coverage from 5.05% to 13.84% across 13 regions. In September 2025, the State Council unveiled a revised plan shifting from large-scale planting to science-based, resilient, and multifunctional strategies emphasizing water conservation, carbon sequestration, and local economic benefits. Efforts in Alshaa, including aerial seeding and enclosure conservation, have created an 1,856-kilometer green barrier protecting the Yellow River, farmland, and transportation routes. The updated approach reflects China’s commitment to ecological sustainability and global environmental cooperation.