An artificial afforestation project area in Inner Mongolia. [Photo/Inner Mongolia Daily]

North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region has made significant strides in its efforts to combat desertification this year, successfully completing 6.04 million mu (approximately 402,666.67 hectares) of sand control and desertification prevention tasks.

This achievement is nearly four times the amount completed during the same period last year, according to the region's forestry and grassland administration.

Inner Mongolia plays a crucial role in the national efforts to prevent desertification, as it is at the frontline for defending against sandstorms in China. The region is integral to the Three-North Shelterbelt Program, which is the largest afforestation project in the world. The majority of this program's three major campaigns take place within Inner Mongolia, accounting for over 60 percent of the project's scope.

In 2024, Inner Mongolia set an ambitious target to control and prevent desertification across 15 million mu. Additionally, with the integration of sand control and wind-solar hybrid projects that cover 2.3 million mu, the total sand control task for the region reaches 17.3 million mu.