Recently, nearly 100 experts and scholars from multiple domestic research institutions gathered in Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang, to participate in a high-level academic salon themed “Exploring New Models of Desert Border-Sealing Projects.” The event featured interdisciplinary exchanges on scientific governance, technological breakthroughs, and model innovations, aiming to provide technological support for high-quality desertification prevention and control.

The Taklimakan Desert, China’s largest shifting desert, poses a serious threat to surrounding oases and infrastructure due to its fragile ecological environment and frequent sandstorms. On November 28, 2024, with the planting of the final rose sapling in the desert of Yutian County, Hotan Prefecture, the 285-kilometer border-sealing gap was successfully closed, completing a 3,046-kilometer "green belt" along the desert’s edge.

According to Lei Jiaqiang, a researcher at the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the completed sealing project integrated engineering, biological, and photovoltaic sand control methods. While forming a comprehensive technological model, further consolidation of these achievements relies on continued scientific and technological innovation—including the development and application of new materials, technologies, and operational models.

“We invited not only senior experts in sand control, but also interdisciplinary experts and entrepreneurs in fields such as new materials and saline water desalination. Everyone was enthusiastic in contributing ideas for advancing sand prevention through innovation,” said Lei.

Feng Qi, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, CAS, delivered a keynote speech online. He emphasized that maintaining the long-term effectiveness and stability of the desert sealing project requires interdisciplinary collaboration and the full leverage of scientific and technological capabilities to support national key projects.

Lu Qi, chief scientist of the Chinese Academy of Forestry and president of the Three-North Shelterbelt Project Research Institute, noted that desertification control is a holistic and long-term endeavor. It requires innovative thinking and strategic planning. He suggested that the Taklimakan sealing project could learn from the model used in Ordos, combining sand control with industrial development such as photovoltaic energy and eco-tourism.

During the event, discussions focused on topics including “Intelligent Diagnosis of Sandstorms and Smart Decision-Making for Sand Control,”“Utilization of Saline Water and New Models of Sand Control in Deserts,” and “Eco-Photovoltaics and High-Quality Sand Control.” Multiple experts and entrepreneurs shared their latest research. In two roundtable sessions—“Edge Effects of Deserts and Border-Sealing Projects” and “New Materials and Technologies in Sand Control”—materials like bentonite and basalt fiber were highlighted as having significant potential in sand prevention applications.

Participants also conducted field visits to the Cele Desert Research Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and construction sites of the Yutian sealing project for on-site investigation.

The event was jointly guided by the China Association of Senior Scientists and Technologists, its Innovation Development Research Center, the CAS Bureau of Retired Cadres, and the Xinjiang Association of Senior Scientists and Technologists. It was co-hosted by the CAS Association of Senior Scientists and Technologists, the CAS Bureau for Sustainable Development, and the CAS Xinjiang Branch, and organized by the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, CAS.

Li Jian, Vice President of the China Association of Senior Scientists and Technologists, stated that many senior researchers have made long-term contributions to desert governance, setting an example for the younger generation. The association will continue to organize veteran experts to contribute their expertise and provide platforms for scientific innovation and social service.