China planted 66 Billion trees to fight desert expansion, and a new study finds they are growing faster than natural forests

Decades of effort to grow more forests in China have produced a remarkable result, but a new study shows the story is more complicated than the simple calculation of how fast planted trees grow.The country has planted some 66 billion trees since 1978 and aims to plant another 34 billion by 2050 through its “Great Green Wall” effort to slow the spread of the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts.

In 2026, Yuhang Luo and colleagues published a study in Geophysical Research Letters that looked at how planted forests in China compare with natural forests.The team found that planted forests increased their leaf area 66 per cent faster than natural forests.

How planted forests grew faster

Researchers used satellite data to track leaf area index, a measure of canopy density in a forest.Leaf area is a key component of carbon uptake and useful for analyzing how forests respond to environmental conditions.

The big difference between planted and natural forests was largely related to their ages.Younger trees tend to grow faster than older trees and planted forests are often younger .

The researchers then compared forests with similar ages and growing conditions. Even after accounting for age, planted forests still increased their leaf area 4.6% faster.

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Human management also makes a difference

Age was not the only factor considered by the researchers. The way planted forests are managed can also offer trees an advantage.

Often planted forests consist of fast-growing species such as eucalyptus and poplar. They may also get human care, including the removal of competing vegetation and the addition of fertilizer.

These practices minimize competition for light, water and nutrients. The study also indicates that planted trees may respond more strongly to the additional fertilizing impact of rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

Yuhang Luo, a landscape ecologist at Peking University in Shenzhen and the study's first author, pointed to a wider concern in how forests are represented in climate research. "most global ecosystem models do not distinguish between forest types", he told Live Science.

The advantage does not last forever

Although planted forests feature faster leaf-area growth, the advantage changes as the trees age.

The difference is greatest among planted trees almost 30 to 40 years old. After around age 40, their advantage declines noticeably.

China's major reforestation effort

The findings arrived against the backdrop of China's enormous reforestation program. Since 1978, the country has planted around 66 billion trees as part of its attempts to address the spread of the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts.

The country plans to plant another 34 billion trees by 2050.

What the findings could mean for future planting

For Luo, the implications goes beyond simply planting more trees. The choice of species, the timing of planting and the way forests are managed can all impact their performance over time.

The findings could help inform future reforestation decisions by offering insight into when trees should be planted, which species may be appropriate, how long the advantages of faster growth can last and where existing climate models may require improvement.

Natural forests still play an essential role in long-term storage and resilience, while planted forests can therefore provide a major short-term carbon uptake.The study highlights the need to consider both when assessing the climate benefits of forests.

Source: Hindustan Times and WION