An overview of the "Three-North" Shelterbelt project in China

Abstract

The "Three-North" Shelterbelt is the largest and most distinctive artificial ecological engineering project in China. It has been conducted since November 25, 1978 in the "Three-North" (i. e., Northeast China, North China and Northwest China) regions. In this study, the background and the essential benefits of the "Three-North" Shelterbelt project are summarized. The basic status and future development of the "Three-North" Shelterbelt project are also studied. As well, we tried to discuss the problems existing in the current shelterbelt system and the strategies to conduct this ecological project rationally. © 2012 Beijing Forestry University and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.