NEWS
23 September 2019

China’s tree-planting drive could falter in a warming world

Researchers warn that the country’s push to hold back its deserts could strain water resources.

Mark Zastrow

Mark Zastrow

View author publications

You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

China has planted billions of trees over the past four decades as part of its fight against expanding deserts, mostly in its north. Each year, the country sows seedlings over an area nearly the size of Ireland. It is even sharing its desert-control methods with others as part of its massive Belt and Road trade initiative.

Access options

Access through your institution

Rent or buy this article

Get just this article for as long as you need it

$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Nature 573, 474-475 (2019)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-02789-w

This article is part of Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of more than 250 media outlets to highlight the issue of climate change.

References

Liang, L., Chen, F., Shi, L. & Niu, S. PLoS ONE 13, e0205885 (2018).
Article PubMed Google Scholar
Huang, J., Ma, J., Guan, X., Li, Y. & He, Y. Adv. Atmos. Sci. 36, 922–937 (2019).
Article Google Scholar
Prăvălie, R., Bandoc, G., Patriche, C. & Sternberg, T. CATENA 178, 209–231 (2019).
Article Google Scholar
Hua, F. et al. Biological Conservation 222, 113-124 (2018).
Article Google Scholar
Feng, X. et al. Nature Clim. Change 6, 1019–1022 (2016).
Article Google Scholar
Ge, J., Pitman, A. J., Guo, W., Zan, B. & Fu, C. Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2019-397 (2019).
Article Google Scholar