秋天过去，虽然最近刮了几场大风，但你有没有发现，近几年，沙尘天气越来越少了？
荒漠化是全球性的环境问题。中国曾是荒漠化最严重的国家之一，很多人都对昏黄的沙尘天气有记忆。沙土从蒙古国等地随着北风被吹起，新疆、宁夏、内蒙古、甘肃、陕西、河北、北京、天津等地都曾受到风沙天气的侵袭。
然而，几代勤劳智慧的中国人植树造林、防沙治沙，在北方13个省、市、自治区建起一道“绿色长城”，取得举世瞩目的成就。近10年，我国北方地区沙尘天气比上个10年减少了30%。
For generations, diligent and wise Chinese people have been planting trees, building forests and implementing sand prevention and control measures, constructing a "Green Great Wall" in 13 northern provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, achieving remarkable accomplishments. In the past decade, sandy and dusty weather in northern China has decreased by 30 percent compared to the previous decade.
“三北防护林”工程建设自1978年启动实施以来，累计完成造林保存面积3174万公顷，工程区森林覆盖率由1977年的5.05%提高到现在的13.84%。
新疆阿克苏柯柯牙绿化工程 图源：中国绿色时报
中国森林覆盖率和蓄积量连续40年保持“双增长”，人工林面积居世界首位，成为全球增绿最多的国家。
中国沙化土地面积由20世纪末的年均扩展34.36万公顷转变为现在的年均缩减66.70万公顷，实现了沙化土地面积20年持续净减少。
Since the initiation of the Three-North Shelterbelt Program in 1978, a total of 31.74 million hectares of forest has been planted and conserved. The forest coverage in the project area has increased from 5.05 percent in 1977 to the current 13.84 percent. China's forest coverage and stock volume have maintained "double growth" for 40 consecutive years, with the area of planted forests ranking first in the world, making China the country with the most significant increase in greenery globally. The area of land affected by desertification in China has shifted from an annual average expansion of 343,600 hectares at the end of the 20th century to an annual average reduction of 667,000 hectares now, achieving a continuous net decrease in desertified land area over 20 years.
我们默默取得的这些成就，随着中国日报的“三北”工程主题四联版和国家林草局举办的同主题展览，被带到了正在沙特阿拉伯首都利雅得(Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)举办的《联合国荒漠化防治公约》第16次缔约方大会(the 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification，简称COP16)上，得到了世界各国政府、专家的盛赞。
自12月2日COP16开幕、中国馆开馆以来，先后有多位国家的元首、大使、政府官员、专家学者等通过阅读《中国日报》和观看中国馆的展览，与中国代表团学习、交流荒漠化防治的经验。
蒙古总理参观中国馆
《联合国防治荒漠化公约》首席科学家巴伦·约瑟夫·奥尔说：“中国在沙漠治理和绿色发展方面取得了显著进展，然而这一进步在全球许多人中仍然鲜为人知。向世界展示中国历史和成就的全面叙述至关重要。”
Barron Joseph Orr, chief scientist of UNCCD, said: "China has made significant strides in sand control and green development, yet this progress remains largely unknown to many around the globe. It is crucial to present the comprehensive narrative of China's history and accomplishments."
“中国的科学家们已经解决了过去看起来非常难以解决的问题。”在发明工具减少受侵蚀的土壤等技术方面，“中国非常强大，这些技术在世界上其他地方也是适用的。”
"Scientists in China have taken on issues that in the past seem to be very difficult to solve." In technology such as soil implements that reduce erode, "China is very strong in this regard in terms of how that's applicable elsewhere."
像很多其他外国专家一样，Orr还专门称赞了《中国日报》四联版：“（中国日报四联版）设计和标题引人入胜、有冲击力。它很有力量。这为世界深入了解中国经验，特别是在应对荒漠化方面的技术和科学进步，提供了宝贵的途径。”
"The design and headlines (of the China Daily newspaper) are captivating and impactful. It's powerful... This serves as a valuable gateway for the world to gain deeper insights into China, particularly its technological and scientific advancements in combating desertification," he said. China's efforts in holding back its deserts date back over 50 years. According to the National Forest and Grassland Administration, 53 percent of China's treatable desertified land has been managed. As of the end of last year, China’s forest coverage rate exceeded 25 percent.
作为第一批缔约国之一，中国于1994年签署《联合国防治荒漠化公约》（UNCCD）。COP16中国代表团团长关志鸥表示，在40多年的“三北”工程建设实践中，我国防沙治沙的基础研究、应用研究等取得长足的进步，总结探索出“中国魔方”草方格治沙、封山育林、飞播造林等多种治理措施，突破了在干旱半干旱区开展治沙造林的技术瓶颈，提升了造林种草成活率和保存率，成功遏制了三北地区荒漠化扩展态势。如今，大数据监测和无人机播种等智能化技术也已经得到了广泛应用。
联合国防治荒漠化公约副执行秘书Andrea Meza Murillo说，看了中国的治沙历史和成就，老一辈治沙人坚定不移的治沙精神让她十分感动，中国荒漠化防治产生的经济效益也让她印象深刻。在“三北”工程中，各地利用沙区独特资源发展传统中药材、优质饲草、林果、沙漠旅游等产业，促进了当地的乡村振兴。
She was deeply moved by the unwavering spirit of the older generation of desert control workers, and the economic benefits generated by China's efforts in desertification control left a profound impression on her. In the Three-North Shelterbelt Program, people in various regions have utilized unique resources in sandy areas to develop industries such as cultivating traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients, high-quality forage, forestry products, desert tourism and so on, promoting local rural vitalization.
“所以中国模式还告诉我们，可以通过这些绿色方式实现经济发展。”她说。
"So the China model is really showing that you can have development with these green ways," she said.
记者：闫东洁
编辑：黎霈融