Chinese scientists turn to bamboo to strengthen the Great Green Wall

After decades of fighting desertification with straw, plants and plastic, Chinese researchers have turned to bamboo – one of the most resilient and sustainable materials on the planet.The fastest-growing plant on Earth has the potential to help overcome challenges with current sand-fixing methods including short lifespan, ecological risks and health issues.Beijing on July 22 released a five-year conservation plan for the country’s forests and grasslands, which includes projects to be implemented under the Three-North Shelterbelt Programme by 2030.Also known as the Great Green Wall, the programme was launched in the 1970s in a bid to curb desertification and hold back the expansion of deserts in the country’s arid northwest, north and northeast regions.Desertification is the degradation of fertile land into desert-like land due to overgrazing, deforestation and climate change.How is China building a great green wall to protect itself from desertificationTo address the problem, China has planted a network – spanning thousands of kilometres – of shrubs, flowering plants and forests. Physical sand barriers have also been installed, including checkerboard grids made from straw.