China completes green belt project around Taklamakan Desert to combat desertification

China has completed a major project to surround the Taklamakan Desert with a green belt. This 3,050 km (1,900 miles) long area is planted with various trees and shrubs to combat desertification. The project, located in the Xinjiang region, aims to prevent sandstorms and improve local economies. The final planting took place in Yutian county, marking the end of a multi-decade effort. The Taklamakan Desert is the largest in China and the second-largest sand-shifting desert in the world. It covers about 337,600 sq km (130,350 square miles), with 85 percent consisting of shifting sand dunes.