@sciencefunn: ✅ China has been planting trees since 1978 through the Three-North Shelterbelt Program (“Great Green Wall”) to slow the expansion of the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts. Estimates of around 66 billion trees have been widely reported. ✅ A recent satellite-based study found that China’s planted forests are increasing their leaf area faster than natural forests—about 66% faster on average. However, this does not mean they are “better” forests. Much of the difference comes from planted forests being younger, intensively managed, and often made up of fast-growing species. Natural forests remain more resilient and generally store carbon better over the long term. One nuance worth mentioning is that China’s afforestation program has been very successful in many regions, but scientists also point out limitations, including lower tree survival in some dry areas, water-use concerns, and the ecological drawbacks of monoculture plantations. We share interesting science content. Feel free to join us for more.

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2026-07-30 15:42:02

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