China started the Great Green Wall project, or the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, in 1978. This monumental effort is a step in the right direction to reverse desertification. This extensive ecological program seeks to reforest areas of northern China. It’s expected to keep the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts at bay and is scheduled to be finished by 2050. The project’s goal is to plant 100 billion trees by then. This would make it the world’s largest ever seeded forest.
As it stands now, the Great Green Wall is home to over 66 million trees. But whether or not it’s actually effective as a desertification prevention strategy has been hotly contested by the scientific community. China too is committed to increasing its tree cover. Of any nation, they plant seedlings at the fastest pace!
To measure the project’s progress, scientists have used a state-of-the-art technology. With the help of Lidar360—an advanced new software that incorporates artificial intelligence—researchers were able to map and count individual trees across this sprawling landscape. Since Lidar360 can’t identify trees obscured by thick canopies, the real number of trees is likely even greater. This tool has become an invaluable asset for maximizing the effectiveness of new tree-planting strategies.
"The fusion of high-precision data and intelligent models ensures that every tree can be planted in the most suitable location." – Qinghua Guo
China’s current tree stock is around 142.6 billion, or about 100 trees per person. This figure contrasts with the global average of about 400 trees per person, a difference attributed to China's dense population.
"Globally, there are closer to 400 trees per person, but in such a densely populated region, it makes sense that this number is lower." – Tom Crowther
The implications of this research go far beyond just a better method to count trees. The data we’ve collected allows us to map the forests that remain. Second, it greatly strengthens China’s strategic overall planning to plant more trees in the years ahead. By using high-precision data and intelligent models, China aims to ensure that each tree is planted where it will thrive best.
