Subhash Staff asked 6 years ago
I need facts and statistics on deforestation and desertification in China. Please share
Sameer Staff answered 6 years ago
Deforestation, the process of cutting, clearing, and removing rainforests, occurs due to various activities such as logging, mining, oil and gas extraction, cattle ranching, agriculture, and geopolitical factors.
Tropical Rainforests, despite covering only 6% of the Earth’s surface, host more than half of all plant and animal species globally. They play a crucial role in human life by providing diverse resources such as carbon storage, climate regulation, water purification, and mitigation of natural hazards like floods. Furthermore, forests house about 90% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, with 57% of remaining rainforests situated in the Neotropics, including 30% in Brazil.
Global deforestation rates present concerning statistics:
- Approximately 4 acres (1 hectare) of forest are lost every second, equivalent to two U.S. football fields.
- Every minute, around 149 acres (60 hectares) of forest vanish.
- Daily, deforestation claims an area of about 214,000 acres (86,000 hectares), surpassing the size of New York City.
- Annually, an alarming 78 million acres (31 million hectares) of forest are lost, an area larger than Poland.
- On average, 137 species face extinction daily, totaling 50,000 species per year.
Between 1960 and 1990, global deforestation rates raised significant concerns, leading to substantial forest cover loss in various regions:
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- Atlantic coast of Brazil: 90-95%
- China: 70%
- Central America: 50%
- South America: 70%
- Philippines: 90%
- Madagascar: 95%
- El Salvador: 70-85%
- Sumatra: 85%
China, known for its massive population of over 1.3 billion and remarkable biodiversity, covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometers, ranking as the world’s second-largest country by land area. Despite having only 12% forest cover, China possesses extensive forested land, making it a prime target for conservation efforts.
China boasts a diverse range of forests, including cold coniferous forests in the north, moist conifer forests with bamboo thickets, subtropical forests dominating central and southern regions, and tropical and seasonal rainforests in Yunnan and Hainan Island.
However, rapid urbanization and industrialization have significantly impacted China’s natural resources, particularly its forest cover. Since 2000, urban areas have expanded by an average of 10% annually, with projections suggesting an addition of 400 million urban residents by 2025. This unprecedented urbanization rate, rising from 17.4% to 46.8% between 1978 and 2009, has led to substantial deforestation. By 1988, China had depleted approximately 289.33 million hectares of forests.
The decline in forest cover, plummeting from 30% in 1950 to just 18.8% by 1980, has resulted in observable environmental changes, including reduced precipitation levels, heightened wind velocity, and increased flooding. Deforestation exacerbates desertification, notably seen in the rapid expansion of the Gobi Desert, devouring grasslands at a rate of nearly 2,250 miles per year. This encroachment limits agricultural space and triggers intense sandstorms, such as the one in May that blanketed 1 million square miles of northern China in dust, exacerbating air pollution in cities like Beijing.
Despite being listed among the top 15 countries with the most forest by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 2001, China’s forests face significant threats. Approximately 36% of China’s forests are under threat due to high population densities, necessitating urgent preservation efforts. In 2011, Conservation International highlighted the forests of southwest Sichuan as one of the world’s ten most threatened forest regions.
Between 1998 and 2001, the Chinese government allocated over 40 billion yuan towards protecting vegetation, offering farm subsidies, and converting agricultural land into forests. In a span from 1999 to 2002, China successfully transformed 7.7 million hectares of farmland into forested areas.
Since 1978, China has pursued the ambitious Three-North Shelter Forest Program, also known as the Great Green Wall, which endeavors to combat desertification by erecting a 2,800-mile barrier of trees to impede the encroaching Gobi Desert. This initiative has seen the planting of over 66 billion trees, resulting in the creation of the world’s largest artificial forest. However, despite some localized successes in slowing desert expansion, challenges persist in curbing its relentless march.
The Grain-for-Green Program incentivized farmers to convert over 69.2 million acres of former cropland and scrubland into forested areas. By 2015, China’s forest cover had expanded by 32%.
Scheduled for completion by 2050 at an estimated cost of $8 billion, the Great Green Wall is considered one of the most extensive ecological undertakings in history. Yet, criticisms have been leveled at its execution, citing unplanned and questionable methodologies. While China’s planted forests cover more than 500,000 square kilometers as of 2009, making it the largest artificial forest globally, challenges such as winter storms and poor soil quality have hindered progress.
As of March this year, China’s artificial forests spanned 69.3 million hectares, surpassing the land area of France. However, planting fast-growing trees in arid regions like northern China has led to groundwater depletion, land erosion, and overfarming. The lack of biodiversity in these forests renders them vulnerable to diseases, as evidenced by the loss of one billion poplar trees in 2000 due to disease outbreaks.
According to Liu Tuo, head of the desertification control office in the State Forestry Administration, approximately 1.73 million square kilometers of land in China have turned into desert, with 530,000 square kilometers considered treatable. However, at the current rate of reclamation, it would take 300 years to reclaim this desertified land, assuming no further natural disasters or setbacks occur.
China’s vast outer regions boast abundant resources, yet they contribute to the 2.6 million square kilometers, or one-third of China’s territory, classified as desert or wasteland. Desertification poses a significant challenge for Beijing, as the expansion of the country’s deserts threatens environmental, economic, and political stability. Roughly 2.6 million square meters of land in China consist solely of sand or rock desert, an area approximately seven times the size of Germany.
In 1998, devastating floods, intensified by deforestation and heavy rainfall, claimed the lives of over 4,000 individuals in southern China. In response, China implemented ambitious reforestation policies aimed at stabilizing soil and mitigating flooding risks.
Initially, these efforts appeared successful. By 2013, China’s Grain-for-Green Program had incentivized farmers to plant more than 69.2 million acres of trees on former cropland and scrubland, resulting in a 32 percent increase in the country’s tree cover by 2015.
However, a closer examination reveals that much of the newly planted tree cover does not constitute true forests, as highlighted by a recent study. Many reforestation projects focused on planting a single tree species, resulting in ecologically homogeneous landscapes reminiscent of monoculture plantations.
The adverse consequences of excessive natural resource exploitation have prompted a critical reevaluation of our relationship with nature. In the face of global uncertainty, it is imperative that we learn from past mistakes and actively support reforestation and other environmentally friendly initiatives to safeguard a sustainable and secure future.
Anvi Staff answered 1 month ago
China has faced significant challenges related to deforestation and desertification, which have had serious environmental, economic, and social consequences. Here’s an overview of both issues:
1. Deforestation in China
Deforestation, the large-scale clearing of forests, has historically been a problem in China, driven by various factors such as urbanization, agriculture, and industrial expansion. Some key points related to deforestation in China include:
Causes of Deforestation
Agricultural Expansion: Forests were cleared to make way for agricultural land to support China’s growing population.
Urbanization: Rapid urban growth, infrastructure development, and the need for building materials led to widespread forest loss.
Industrialization: Logging for timber and wood-based industries, particularly in the 20th century, significantly contributed to deforestation.
Illegal Logging: Although logging bans have been implemented, illegal logging activities have persisted in some areas.
Consequences of Deforestation
Loss of Biodiversity: China’s forests are home to many species of plants and animals, and deforestation threatens this biodiversity.
Soil Erosion: Forests play a crucial role in preventing soil erosion. When they are removed, the soil becomes more prone to degradation, which affects agriculture and water quality.
Flooding: Deforestation has been linked to increased flooding, particularly in areas like the Yangtze River Basin, where the absence of trees reduces the land’s ability to absorb water.
Contribution to Desertification: The loss of forests can accelerate desertification, especially in regions already vulnerable to arid conditions.
Efforts to Combat Deforestation
Logging Bans: In 1998, China introduced a nationwide logging ban, particularly in the Yangtze and Yellow River basins, to protect forests and reduce flood risks.
Reforestation Projects: China has launched some of the largest reforestation projects in the world. The Grain-for-Green Program (also known as the Sloping Land Conversion Program) encourages farmers to convert farmland back into forested areas in exchange for government subsidies.
The Three-North Shelter Forest Program: Also known as the Green Great Wall, this program aims to plant billions of trees in northern China to combat deforestation and desertification.
2. Desertification in China
Desertification is the process by which fertile land becomes desert, usually due to drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture. It is a major ecological issue in China, particularly in the northern and western regions.
Causes of Desertification
Overgrazing: Excessive livestock grazing, especially in fragile ecosystems like grasslands, strips vegetation and exposes the soil to wind erosion, which accelerates desertification.
Deforestation: As trees are removed for logging or agriculture, the land loses its natural defenses against wind and soil erosion, leading to desert-like conditions.
Climate Change: Shifts in climate patterns, with increased temperatures and changes in precipitation, have contributed to the expansion of desert areas.
Unsustainable Agriculture: Improper agricultural practices, such as over-cultivation and poor irrigation techniques, have degraded soils and contributed to land desertification.
Urbanization: Expanding cities and infrastructure in arid and semi-arid regions has disrupted ecosystems, exacerbating land degradation.
Consequences of Desertification
Expanding Deserts: About 27% of China’s land area is desert, with deserts like the Gobi Desert expanding southward. This process threatens agricultural land and communities living in these areas.
Dust Storms: Desertification has led to frequent and severe dust storms that affect not only China but also neighboring countries like South Korea and Japan. These storms reduce air quality and pose health risks.
Water Scarcity: As land becomes desert, water sources become scarce, affecting both agriculture and human consumption.
Economic Impact: Desertification threatens livelihoods, particularly for rural communities that depend on farming and livestock. It also leads to the loss of productive land.
Efforts to Combat Desertification
Tree Planting Programs: As part of the Three-North Shelter Forest Program, trees are being planted across northern China to create a “green wall” to halt the expansion of the Gobi Desert and other desert areas.
Grassland Protection: The Chinese government has implemented measures to limit overgrazing by controlling the number of livestock and promoting rotational grazing to allow grasslands to recover.
Ecological Migration: In some areas severely affected by desertification, the government has relocated communities to more sustainable environments.
Sustainable Farming Practices: The government is promoting sustainable agriculture, including the use of drought-resistant crops and improved irrigation techniques, to prevent further land degradation.
Sand Control: Some regions are using innovative technologies, such as geoengineering and sand-fixing vegetation, to stabilize sand dunes and prevent their spread.
Key Programs and Achievements
The Great Green Wall (Three-North Shelter Forest): Launched in 1978, this program is one of the world’s largest ecological projects, aiming to curb the expansion of deserts across northern China. It involves planting billions of trees along the northern regions, and while there have been successes, challenges remain, such as tree survival rates and sustainability.
Grain-for-Green: This policy has helped reforest large areas of formerly arable land, and it continues to incentivize land conversion to forest or grassland.
Improved Monitoring: China has invested in technology to monitor desertification and forest cover, enabling more effective responses and targeted interventions.