China's Deserts Are Turning Into Forests | The Green Wall Project Explained

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:00]Not long ago, this land was nothing but endless sand. Strong winds would carry dunes across fields, [music] burying everything in their path. But today, these same areas are turning green again. Over the past 100 years, deserts around the world have expanded by nearly 10% entire villages and farmlands have been lost. Yet one country found a simple way to fight back, China. Instead of using advanced machines, they rely on a basic method called the straw grid system. Workers place dry straw into the sand, forming small square patterns about 1 m wide. It's tough work in extreme heat and strong winds. A worker can only cover a small area in a full day.

[00:00:46]But the results are powerful. These grids reduce wind speed near the ground and stop up to 90% of the moving sand.

[00:00:54]Once the sand is stable, special desert plants are added. These plants are incredibly resilient. Their roots grow deep underground, allowing them to survive with very little rain. Even a single plant can help hold a large patch of sand in place. Over time, this method transforms barren land into something useful again, from grazing fields to farms and even solar energy sites.

[00:01:20]Today, a large portion of China's desert land is being reclaimed, bringing life back to areas that once seemed lost forever.