Conversation

Since 1978, China has planted 66 billion trees — with another 34 billion planned by 2050 — as part of its “Great Green Wall” aimed at slowing the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts from spreading.
Now, a new study found that planted forests, like the Great Green Wall, increased their leaf area 66% faster than natural ones. While young trees grow faster than old ones, even when comparing similar-aged forests, planted ones still grew 4.6% faster.