Abstract:

The Great Green Wall project （GGWP） has achieved remarkable accomplishments in combating desertification， effectively curbing ecological degradation and establishing an internationally leading “Chinese model.” The key to its success lies in China’s persistent and continually deepening science-based strategies for combating desertification. This paper systematically reviews and summarizes the transformative process and core connotations of scientific sand control in the GGWP. The main advances are reflected in three deepening aspects： （1） Conceptual deepening： Shifting from a struggle for survival to scientific concepts such as “harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature” and “greening according to water availability，” with an emphasis on systematic governance and sustainability. （2） Technological deepening： Technological innovation has played a vital role throughout， evolving from traditional methods to a new stage of “Technology-Driven Combating Desertification 2.0，” integrating remote sensing， big data， water-saving irrigation， superior germplasm， biological sand fixation， and intelligent equipment， thus increasing precision and efficiency. （3） Effectiveness deepening： Progressing from single-target ecological restoration to the coordinated improvement of ecological， economic， and social benefits， along with the establishment of a comprehensive scientific evaluation system. The scientific practices of combating desertification in the GGWP provide invaluable experience and Chinese wisdom for ecological restoration and sustainable development in arid and semi-arid regions， both in China and worldwide. This paper also offers targeted recommendations for building a greener， more ecological， more beautiful， and happier “Three Norths，” serving as a reference for policy-making.

Key words: combating desertification, ecological restoration, Great Green Wall Project, scientific desertification control