The Loess Plateau, once the most eroded region on the planet, saw a dramatic transformation thanks to China's intervention to undo years of damage from agriculture and grazing. This initiative became one of China's most significant environmental projects.
Spanning over 245,000 square miles across several provinces, the Loess Plateau is home to around 100 million people. By the late 20th century, it was recognized as the most eroded area globally, as highlighted in a documentary by ecologist John D Liu. Generations of farming had degraded the soil, leading to severe erosion and dust storms that clogged the Yellow River with silt, affecting cities as far as Beijing.
In response, the Chinese government launched the Grain to Green project in 1999, with support from the World Bank. This initiative aimed to restore the plateau's ecosystem by curbing overgrazing and excessive farming. It was hailed as the largest and most successful water and soil conservation project worldwide by 2004.
The project focused on enhancing agricultural productivity and incomes while addressing the dust storms plaguing urban areas. Peter Bridgewater, an honorary professor at the Australian National University, noted that the dust exacerbated pollution-related health issues. The World Bank and local stakeholders collaborated to design a sustainable approach, banning harmful practices like tree-cutting and unrestricted grazing.
China's authoritarian governance facilitated the project's ambitious goals. Incentives such as grain and cash subsidies encouraged farmers to convert their land to grassland or forest. Tax benefits and long-term land use agreements supported the transition to sustainable agriculture, including orchards and nut farming, alongside extensive tree-planting programs.
By 2016, over 11,500 square miles of cropland had been converted to forest or grassland, boosting vegetative cover by 25% in a decade. Studies published in Nature Climate Change reported significant reductions in erosion and improvements in plant productivity. Forestry worker Yan Rufeng noted the return of birds and the natural development of the forest ecosystem.
Despite its success, the project faced challenges, including resistance from communities reluctant to plant trees on farmland. Concerns about food security arose due to initial drops in grain yield, though these improved over time. Early reforestation efforts involved mass planting of non-native species, which later shifted to diverse plantings to enhance biodiversity. However, increased vegetation began to strain water resources, impacting the Yellow River.
Bridgewater emphasized the need for careful consideration of interconnected factors in such projects. The plateau's climate, transitioning between arid and semi-humid zones, has been warming and becoming wetter, complicating restoration efforts. He advocates for a new approach to ecosystem management that considers the rapid pace of climate and environmental changes.
Former farmer Lu FuChin shared that the project improved local employment opportunities. Once reliant on cutting trees for firewood, he now grows them, contributing to the region's economic and environmental revival. As the environment improves, Lu believes the community's prosperity will follow.