China's Loess Plateau reforestation cuts Yellow River sediment 85%
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China's Loess Plateau reforestation and engineering projects cut the Yellow River's annual sediment load by 85% from historical averages. The river's color shifted from yellow to brown and green in many sections. The Grain for Green program reached 34.3 million hectares by 2020.
Key Facts
- The Yellow River's annual sediment load fell from 1.6 billion tonnes in 1919–1959 to 240 million tonnes in 2000–2020.
- By 2010, ponds on the river had accumulated about 19.32 billion tonnes of sediment.
- The Grain for Green program converted 34.3 million hectares of sloping farmland to forest, shrub, and grassland by 2020.
- Cumulative spending on reforestation and land rehabilitation reached 517 billion yuan (about $80 billion) by 2019.
- In 1997, the Yellow River failed to reach the sea for 226 days, drying 704 km of its channel.
Sediment Reduction
The Yellow River's annual sediment load fell 85% from historical averages, from 1.6 billion tonnes in 1919–1959 to 240 million tonnes in 2000–2020. The river's color shifted from yellow to brown and green in many sections. By 2010, ponds on the river had accumulated about 19.32 billion tonnes of sediment.
Reforestation Program
The Grain for Green program began in 1999, converting sloping and unproductive farmland to forest, shrub, and grassland. By 2020, the program covered 34.3 million hectares. Cumulative spending on reforestation and land rehabilitation reached 517 billion yuan (about $80 billion) by 2019.
Ecological Side Effects
In 1997, the Yellow River failed to reach the sea for 226 days, drying 704 km of its channel. Water flow regulation began in 1999 in response to the drying. Sediment-trapping dams and ponds are losing storage capacity as they fill, making vegetation the main long-term control.
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China's Loess Plateau reforestation cuts Yellow River sediment 85%
