At the edge of China's Taklamakan Desert, rows of trees are slowly edging into one of the world’s harshest landscapes after decades of planting. Scientists say this shows how human action can transform extreme environments – but warn of the cost to water resources, and that such schemes might not be easy to repeat elsewhere.
The Taklamakan, in the vast Xinjiang region, is one of the driest deserts on Earth. Surrounded by mountains that block humid air, it has long been hostile to plant life.
