National Plan for Desertification Prevention and Control (2021–2030).

This National Plan for Desertification Prevention and Control (2021–2030) is a strategic framework to combat desertification, aiming to restore ecosystems and protect land from further degradation.
The Plan sets a number of key objectives, including that, by 2025, 6.7952 million-hectare of desertification areas should be under management, with 2 million-hectares of enclosed and forbidden reserves; and that by 2030, China 12.3982-million-hectares of desertification areas should be under management with 6 million-hectare of enclosed and forbidden reserves. This would amount to having 67% of China’s manageable desertification areas under dedicated management by 2030.
The Plan identifies five major desertification zones, including arid deserts, semi-arid lands, and alpine zones on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It designates seven key areas for priority action—three as core treatment zones and four as prevention zones, including regions like Inner Mongolia and the Taklamakan Desert.
Main protection measures include: Strengthen the control of land use and legal protection; Rely on national parks, nature reserves, and natural parks to protect desertified land in key areas; Designate enclosed and forbidden reserves; etc. A range of methods are outlined, including forest and grassland establishment, erosion control, and soil restoration. The Plan emphasizes using local flora for vegetation recovery and promotes ecosystem-based management practices. To support local communities and boost the economy, the plan advocates for sustainable, water-conserving industries like eco-tourism, medicinal plant cultivation, and renewable energy projects in appropriate areas.