(Yicai) Dec. 26 -- China's dual initiative to develop photovoltaic and wind power facilities in arid regions while combating desertification requires both technological innovation and careful environmental stewardship, according to experts.

Promoting the use of PV technologies to slow land degradation must be approached cautiously, scholars including academician Fu Bojie from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Liu Yanxu and Wang Shuai from Beijing Normal University, pointed out in the latest issue of the Bulletin of CAS, a think tank journal.

The experts emphasized that arid soil beneath solar farms remains vulnerable to degradation without proper sand stabilization measures.

While China has successfully slowed desertification, the authors stressed the importance of developing scientifically sound approaches to balance human activity with natural processes in arid regions to ensure sustainable development.

The researchers cautioned against indiscriminate tree planting in deserts, challenging the common belief that "greener is better." They noted that excessive afforestation can deplete water resources and damage natural ecosystems. China's arid regions have significantly less capacity for new tree growth compared to the country's southern and northeastern areas.

Water resource management requires careful consideration. Large-scale vegetation projects in arid regions can significantly impact terrestrial water storage, which has been declining in northern China primarily due to groundwater depletion.

Climate change necessitates greater attention to ecosystem stability. The scholars emphasized that China should prioritize ecosystem sustainability in arid regions, noting that vegetation resilience has decreased in dry sub-humid and semi-arid areas in recent years.

Despite these challenges, China has achieved international recognition for its ecological restoration efforts. Satellite data from 2000-2017 show China and India leading global land greening initiatives. According to a 2019 study cited in the paper, China's increased vegetation cover primarily came from forests (42 percent) and croplands (32 percent), while India's growth was predominantly in croplands (82 percent).

Editor: Emmi Laine