China’s tree-planting drive turns the harsh Taklamakan desert from a biological void into a carbon sink

A man guides camels along the edge of the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region on October 29, 2013. (Image: REUTERS/China Daily)

New research published on 19 Jan in PNAS suggests China’s Great Green Wall has helped the Taklamakan Desert’s edges absorb more carbon dioxide than they release. By analysing 25 years of satellite and climate data, scientists found expanding vegetation and higher wet-season rainfall boosted carbon uptake. While questions remain about its impact on sandstorms and long-term stability, researchers say the project could offer a model for transforming arid regions into carbon sinks.

Did our AI summary help?

Mass tree planting around China’s Taklamakan Desert is now absorbing more carbon than the region releases, according to research published on Jan. 19 in the journal PNAS. Scientists say the vast shelterbelt project may be reshaping one of the world’s driest landscapes into a functioning carbon sink, offering fresh insight into efforts to slow desert expansion and cut atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Greening the Taklamakan Desert

The Taklamakan Desert spans about 130,000 square miles. It is slightly larger than Montana in size. High mountain ranges surround the vast basin. These peaks block moist air for months. Conditions remain extremely dry and harsh. Over 95% of the surface holds shifting sand. Scientists once labelled it a biological void.

Desert growth increased during rapid urban expansion. Large scale farming reshaped natural landscapes nationwide. Sandstorms became more frequent and destructive. Soil was stripped and replaced by sand. Desertification spread across northern Chinese regions. In 1978, China launched a vast programme. The Three-North Shelterbelt Programme aimed to respond. It is widely called the Great Green Wall. The plan targets planting billions of trees by 2050.

More than 66 billion trees stand planted. Vegetation now encircles the Taklamakan Desert fully. Officials confirmed completion of this ring in 2024. Forest cover rose from 10% in 1949. Today it exceeds 25% nationwide.

Carbon Sink Findings from PNAS Study

Researchers analysed vegetation and satellite observations carefully. They examined precipitation, photosynthesis and carbon fluxes. The team reviewed data from 25 years. They also used NOAA’s Carbon Tracker model. That system maps global carbon sources and sinks.

Wet season rainfall averaged 16 millimetres monthly. That was 2.5 times dry season levels. Increased rainfall boosted plant growth noticeably. Carbon dioxide levels fell during wetter months. Concentrations dropped from 416 to 413 ppm. Scientists link this shift to expanding vegetation.

The study’s co-author Yuk Yung commented publicly. He teaches planetary science at Caltech. He also works with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Yung told Live Science about findings. He said human intervention enhanced carbon capture. Even extreme arid lands showed measurable response.

What It Means for Desert Regions

Earlier studies examined carbon absorbed by sand. Those findings raised doubts about stability. Rising temperatures may release stored carbon. Vegetation based absorption appears more reliable.

Researchers say only the desert rim transformed. Yet it marks a significant tested model. The project’s impact on sandstorms remains debated. Experts question reductions in storm frequency. Still, the carbon sink effect looks promising.

Yung said the approach offers wider lessons. Other desert regions may study this example. The findings suggest deserts can change course. Careful planting and rainfall trends played roles. Scientists will continue monitoring future impacts.