China's Taklamakan Desert tree planting turns the landscape into a carbon sink, satellites show

China has spent nearly 50 years planting trees and shrubs along the edges of the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang. New satellite data, using solar-induced fluorescence, indicates that these restored areas now absorb more carbon dioxide than they release. The study, published in PNAS, highlights that the effect is modest compared to tropical forests but still significant for such an arid region. The project's success depends heavily on meltwater from surrounding mountain ranges, which irrigates the planted vegetation. This makes the carbon sink fragile and site specific. Similar efforts elsewhere would need reliable water sources. The findings underline the value of long term satellite monitoring for remote landscapes and the importance of accounting for local conditions when evaluating ecological restoration projects.