Explainer: How China turns sand into green, taking its ecological playbook global

NAMPA / Xinhua
2026-08-20
BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Fighting desertification -- a crisis affecting a third of the Earth's land surface and threatening a billion livelihoods -- has rarely lacked goodwill or planted saplings. The hurdle has always been taking proven solutions to scale. Billed as a "COP of implementation," the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) aims to bridge that gap, bringing g......
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WINDHOEK, 19 August 2026 - Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp speaking at the Iziko Museum in Cape Town, South Africa during the handing over of the remains of former Robben Island prisoners in partnership with the South African Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. (Photo: Contributed) NAMPA

WINDHOEK, 19 August 2026 - Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp speaking at the Iziko Museum in Cape Town, South Africa during the handing over of the remains of former Robben Island prisoners in partnership with the South African Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. (Photo: Contributed) NAMPA

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OKAHANDJA, 18 July 2015 - Chief Tjinaani Maharero of the Maharero Traditional Authority and head of the Otjika-Tjamuaha Royal House. (Photo: Contributed) NAMPA.

OKAHANDJA, 18 July 2015 - Chief Tjinaani Maharero of the Maharero Traditional Authority and head of the Otjika-Tjamuaha Royal House. (Photo: Contributed) NAMPA.

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WINDHOEK, 18 August 2026 - First Gentleman Lieutenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah on Tuesday launched the DEN Impact Foundation, an initiative aimed at implementing targeted programs to tackle the escalating social, educational, and mental health issues affecting boys. (Pho: Contributed) NAMPA.

WINDHOEK, 18 August 2026 - First Gentleman Lieutenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah on Tuesday launched the DEN Impact Foundation, an initiative aimed at implementing targeted programs to tackle the escalating social, educational, and mental health issues affecting boys. (Pho: Contributed) NAMPA.

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WINDHOEK, 18 August 2026 - Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare speaking at the launch of DEN Impact Foundation on Tuesday in Windhoek. (Photo: Contributed) NAMPA.

WINDHOEK, 18 August 2026 - Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare speaking at the launch of DEN Impact Foundation on Tuesday in Windhoek. (Photo: Contributed) NAMPA.

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/KHOICHAS, 14 August 2026 - Namibia’s independence was a collective victory. The southern regions of Hardap and ||Karas were central to the struggle, anchored by local churches that risked everything to shelter PLAN fighters and educate the future leaders of our nation. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA.

/KHOICHAS, 14 August 2026 - Namibia’s independence was a collective victory. The southern regions of Hardap and ||Karas were central to the struggle, anchored by local churches that risked everything to shelter PLAN fighters and educate the future leaders of our nation. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA.

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HOACHANAS, 12 August 2026 - Historian and liberation struggle icon Markus Kooper, in collaboration with the Hoachanas community, has established a community library to preserve the history of the southern region, including the Red Clan history and past freedom struggle events. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA.

HOACHANAS, 12 August 2026 - Historian and liberation struggle icon Markus Kooper, in collaboration with the Hoachanas community, has established a community library to preserve the history of the southern region, including the Red Clan history and past freedom struggle events. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA.

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GIBEON, 13 August 2026 - The African Methodist Episcopal Private Community School (AMEPS) in Gibeon was a significant community-operated institution founded by the AME Church and local leaders, including Hendrik Witbooi, during the fight for freedom. It ceased operations and was integrated into the state school system in 2007. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA.

GIBEON, 13 August 2026 - The African Methodist Episcopal Private Community School (AMEPS) in Gibeon was a significant community-operated institution founded by the AME Church and local leaders, including Hendrik Witbooi, during the fight for freedom. It ceased operations and was integrated into the state school system in 2007. (Photo by: Uakutura Kambaekua) NAMPA.

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