10th Kubuqi Int'l Desert Forum opens with focus on scientific approach in desertification control (by Zhao Yusha in Ordos, published on Global Times on 16 Sept 2025 at this link: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1343628.shtml)

The 10th Kubuqi International Desert Forum opened Tuesday in Ordos, North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. China's outstanding achievements in combating desertification took center stage, with 13.3 million hectares restored over the past five years, putting the country ahead of its 2030 goal of zero net land degradation.

Themed "Scientific Desertification Control, Green Development," this year's forum drew approximately 200 participants from home and abroad, including foreign dignitaries, UN representatives, diplomats from countries severely affected by desertification, government officials, experts, scholars and entrepreneurs.

Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP), the world's largest afforestation project has carried out comprehensive desertification control over more than 200 million mu (about 13.3 million hectares), the Global Times learned at the forum. Both desertified and sandy land areas have continued to shrink, and the country has also taken the lead in realizing the 2030 goal of zero net land degradation.

Wind erosion across China's eight major deserts and four major sandy regions has dropped about 40 percent since 2000. Vegetation now covers an average of 20.22 percent of the land — up 2.6 percentage points from a decade ago. And over the past 10 years, the frequency of sandstorms has declined by 30 percent compared with the previous decade, according to data from China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration at the forum.

China has also sought to pair ecological restoration with economic development. Sandy areas now produce about 48 million tons of fresh and dried fruit annually—roughly a quarter of the national total—worth 120 billion yuan ($16.5 billion). In several key regions, income from forestry and fruit production make up more than half of farmers' net earnings.

In a video addressing the opening ceremony, Yasmine Fouad, executive secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), said that land degradation is threatening our planet at an alarming rate. Every year, 100 million hectares are lost — equivalent to four football fields -- every second.

"The question is not whether the world can act, but whether we will. And here in Kubuqi, you have answered with a resounding yes," Fouad said. She noted that the Kubuqi model teaches a fundamental truth: When we restore our land, we restore human dignity. It means jobs — over 100,000 of them. It means new industries that sustain families. It means communities that no longer see the desert as an adversary, but as a partner in their future. This transformation, she stressed, was not the work of one sector alone.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Byambasuren Oyunsanaa, head of Mongolia's Forestry Department, said that Mongolia, as one of the most climate - vulnerable countries, faces pressing challenges from desertification and land degradation. He added that in recent years, Mongolia has prioritized land restoration, climate change, and sustainable livelihoods, such as the launch of "One Billion Trees" national campaign, to restore the fragile landscapes.

He noted that in recent years, the Kubuqi International Desert Forum has become a key venue for addressing the pressing challenges of desertification, land degradation, and climate change, contributing to new international initiatives and innovative solutions.

Founded in 2007, the Kubuqi International Desert Forum is the world's only large-scale international forum dedicated to fighting desertification and advancing the green economy, Xinhua reported.

Over nine previous sessions, it has become a key platform for showcasing China's achievements in desertification control, deepening global cooperation, and supporting the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

This year's forum seeks to promote international exchanges on desertification control and ecological civilization, share China's experience, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

During the forum, Rokiatou Traoré, UNCCD land hero and executive manager of Herou Alliance, told the Global Times that "I think it's remarkable, because China has shown the world that it is actually possible to turn deserts into oases. By mobilizing different ministries, harnessing technology, and working with rivers, mountains, and even the wind, China has made it happen."

"It's a joint effort to truly transform deserts into oases. I sincerely hope every country can follow this commitment and example, and work to turn deserts around the world into oases, just as China has done," said Traoré.

"China has some of the largest and fastest reforestation projects in the world. Brazil, my country, is a leader in technologies for restoring native forests. Our two countries have been discussing how to create synergies and make better use of these complementary technologies. That's one of the reasons I'm here — to better understand Chinese technologies and how they could also help Brazil achieve our goals," said Luiz Keppe, second secretary at Brazil's Embassy in China, told the Global Times.

In addition, Keppe said he found China's fire monitoring and firefighting technologies impressive. "That's something that could definitely help Brazil. The broader monitoring systems I saw here would also be very useful," he said.