Core Viewpoint - The theme for World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought in 2025 is "Restore Land, Release Opportunities," highlighting the urgent need to address land degradation and its impact on human development [1] Group 1: Global Land Degradation - Approximately 40% of global land is degraded, affecting nearly half of the world's population and threatening climate stability, biodiversity, and human livelihoods [1] - Addressing land degradation is crucial for food security, water resource protection, and climate change mitigation [1] Group 2: China's Efforts in Combating Desertification - China has effectively managed 53% of its desertifiable land, resulting in a net reduction of 6.5 million acres of desertified land, achieving "zero growth" in land degradation and a dual reduction in desertification and sandification [2] - Major ecological projects such as the "Three-North Shelter Forest Program" and "Mountain and Water Project" have contributed to a forest coverage rate exceeding 25% and a forest stock volume surpassing 20 billion cubic meters [1] - China has developed over 100 desertification control technologies, with some being implemented in over 40 countries, establishing itself as a global leader in combating desertification [2]