24/01/2026
THE ONLY POSITIVE NEWS FROM CHINA I LIKED LATELY --- and it is worth reading as SGF pursues its reforestation plan for the island of Panay. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=895614966394693&set=a.777739634848894
China’s massive tree-planting campaigns have reached a scale so vast that scientists observed something unprecedented: the nation’s water cycle itself began to change. Through decades of large-scale afforestation and reforestation projects, millions of hectares of land were transformed, reshaping how water moves through the atmosphere, soil, rivers, and underground reserves.
Trees play a powerful role in the climate system. Their roots absorb groundwater, their leaves release moisture into the air through transpiration, and their canopies influence cloud formation. As China dramatically increased forest cover, these natural processes intensified. In some regions, rainfall patterns shifted, river flows changed, and groundwater recharge rates were permanently altered.
One of the most famous efforts, aimed at stopping desert expansion and soil erosion, helped stabilize land and reduce dust storms. Forests slowed surface runoff, allowing more water to soak into the ground while reducing flooding risks. At the same time, increased vegetation changed evaporation rates, subtly influencing regional weather systems.
However, this transformation also revealed how powerful human-led environmental interventions can be. In certain dry regions, dense tree planting increased water consumption, placing pressure on local water supplies. This led scientists and planners to rethink tree-planting strategies, focusing more on native species, balanced density, and long-term sustainability rather than sheer numbers alone.
China’s experience stands as a global lesson: restoring nature at scale can reshape entire environmental systems—for better and for worse—if not carefully planned. It proves that forests are not just scenery; they are living infrastructure that controls water, climate, and life itself.
This remarkable transformation shows that when humans alter landscapes on a massive scale, the Earth responds in equally massive ways. The challenge now is learning how to guide that power responsibly for a balanced and resilient future.
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