“过去几十年里，中国一直做的事情开始取得成效”

Core Insights - A new study indicates that China's large-scale afforestation efforts are transforming one of the world's largest and driest deserts, the Taklamakan Desert, into a carbon sink, meaning it absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits [1][5] Group 1: Research Findings - The Taklamakan Desert spans approximately 337,000 square kilometers, and afforestation along its edges has shown promising results over the past few decades [1][4] - The study, co-authored by Professor Yulin Weng from Caltech, highlights that human intervention can effectively enhance carbon sequestration even in extreme arid landscapes, suggesting the potential for deserts to be converted into carbon sinks and to combat desertification [3][7] - The research analyzed ground observation data and satellite data over the past 25 years, revealing that vegetation around the Taklamakan Desert absorbs more carbon dioxide than the desert releases [8] Group 2: Historical Context - In 1978, China initiated the "Three-North Shelter Forest Program," a large-scale ecological project aimed at mitigating desertification, also known as the "Green Great Wall," resulting in the planting of over 66 billion trees in northern China [3][7] - By 2024, China completed vegetation coverage around the Taklamakan Desert, which has helped stabilize sand dunes [7][8] Group 3: Implications - The findings suggest that the vegetation at the edges of the Taklamakan Desert represents a successful case of transforming a desert into a carbon sink, indicating the feasibility of such interventions [5][8]