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Launched in 1978, the Great Green Wall initiative, also known as the Three North Shelter Forest Program, was developed to address the fundamental challenges posed by the encroachment of deserts, particularly the Gobi desert. Spanning across northern and western China, the initiative sought to construct vast networks of forests to stabilize sand dunes, act as windbreaks, and enhance ecological conditions.
The late 20th century saw China struggling with significant environmental hardships due to rampant desertification. The Gobi desert was expanding at an alarming rate, with sandstorms becoming increasingly frequent, affecting air quality and agricultural productivity far beyond national borders.