China adds forest the size of Texas since 1990 in world’s biggest reforestation push

China has added forest cover equivalent to the size of Texas since 1990, a remarkable environmental turnaround highlighted in a new United Nations report that contrasts with accelerating global deforestation.

Info via here: China Has Added Forest the Size of Texas Since 1990

The report found that China has expanded its forests by 173 million acres — more than any other country — through decades of large-scale reforestation and desert-control programs. Much of the growth stems from tree-planting initiatives launched in the late 1970s, including the completion last year of a 2,000-mile-long green belt around the Taklamakan Desert and ongoing efforts to contain the Gobi Desert.

China’s sustained reforestation push has transformed arid regions and helped slow the spread of desertification, contributing to a net global gain in tree cover in Asia. Other countries including Russia, India, and Canada have also added forests, but China’s progress — roughly 120 million acres planted by hand over 35 years — stands out as the largest national-scale reforestation drive in modern history.

—

China’s vast reforestation effort underscores the country’s growing investment in ecological restoration and environmental security. The success could influence global carbon markets, timber demand, and climate policy frameworks as other nations look to replicate its model.

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.