A massive desert control project launched in December 2025 in Gansu aims to halt desertification in the Kumtag Desert using sand barriers, water conservation, and afforestation.

A large-scale desert control project began in December 2025 in Aksay, Gansu Province, targeting the Kumtag Desert within Kazak Autonomous County. Covering 222,000 mu (about 14,800 hectares), the initiative focuses on water conservation, sand fixation, and afforestation to combat desertification. Workers are using tractors and drones to install sand barriers and transport materials, aiming to stabilize shifting dunes and restore degraded land. The effort is part of China’s broader environmental strategy to address desert expansion in arid regions.