The Loess plateau was the most eroded place on Earth until China took action and reversed decades of damage from grazing and farmingIt was one of China’s most ambitious environmental endeavours ever.The Loess plateau, an area spanning more than 245,000 sq miles (640,000 sq km) across three provinces and parts of four others, supports about 100 million people. By the end of the 20th century, however, this land, once fertile and productive, was considered the most eroded place on Earth, according to a documentary by the ecologist John D Liu. Continue reading...
China's Gansu province, facing severe soil erosion and dust storms due to overgrazing and cultivation, launched the "Grain to Green" project in 1999 with World Bank backing. This water and soil conservation initiative, the "largest and most successful in the world", aimed to restore agricultural production and address air pollution. While initial results included increased wildlife and reduced grain yield, challenges arose concerning monoculture plantations, water management in the Yellow River system, and adapting to climate change. Experts suggest a multi-dimensional approach to landscape management is needed for long-term sustainability.