Across northwestern China, a desert long described as empty is showing measurable ecological change. New research examining the Taklamakan Desert finds rising vegetation cover and seasonal carbon uptake linked to decades of state-backed planting efforts. The findings suggest parts of this hyperarid region are beginning to function as a modest carbon sink. Scientists analysed satellite records alongside ground observations and detected stronger summer photosynthesis and declining net carbon emissions in restored zones. The work connects these trends to the country’s vast shelterbelt programme, often called the Great Green Wall. While uncertainties remain about scale and durability, the data indicates that even extreme drylands can respond to sustained ecological engineering, with possible implications for carbon management and desert control.
