China's 66 billion‑tree program curbs Gobi desert, Africa's Great Green Wall stalls

Since 1978 China has planted roughly 66 billion trees under its "Three‑North Shelterbelt" program, aiming to halt the spread of the Gobi desert. The effort has reduced desert expansion from about 10,000 km² per year in the 1980s to around 2,000 km² per year by 2022. Early attempts using fast‑growing poplars failed because the trees consumed groundwater and died in large numbers; the strategy was later shifted to native, drought‑resistant shrubs and trees.

In contrast, Africa’s "Great Green Wall" – a 7,775‑km vegetation corridor intended to run from Senegal to Djibouti – has made limited progress. Launched in 2007, by 2020 only about four percent of the planned area had been restored. Funding gaps, weak management, and political instability have hampered implementation. A notable example is a irrigation system built near Kourtimaleh in Djibouti that was abandoned when the pump broke and no money was available for repairs. Experts warn that tree planting alone cannot stop desertification; successful projects require reliable water sources, local community involvement, long‑term maintenance, and species suited to the environment. Some positive outcomes exist, such as a solar‑powered oasis in Chad’s Barkedroussou region where farmers now grow dates, bananas and sorghum.

The disparity highlights the importance of sustained investment, adaptive techniques, and comprehensive planning in large‑scale land‑restoration efforts across both Asia and Africa.