A forest park in northern Shanxi province [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

North China's Shanxi province invested 1.18 billion yuan ($182.13 million) in the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), completing afforestation work across 2,099.6 square kilometers, according to an announcement from the Shanxi Forestry and Grassland Bureau on Jan 31.

China launched the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, an afforestation project covering 13 provincial-level regions in North, Northeast and Northwest China, in 1978.

Over the past five years, Shanxi expanded the program's afforestation area to 57 local counties, county-level cities and districts, up from 28 counties in 2016. The province has focused on forestry work in ecologically fragile areas in the Taihang Mountains and Lyuliang Mountains.

The province has taken forestry and grassland tech applications as vital support during the program, carrying out some 30 targeted tech applications in different terrains, such as hilly and desert areas.

Shanxi has established a shelterbelt system covering the northern sandstorm area, the central and southern Lyuliang Mountains, the upper reaches of Fenhe River, and the Yellow River basin. 

The Shanxi Forestry and Grassland Bureau stated that in the next five years, the province would focus on water and soil conservation and anti-desertification work. It will also adhere to artificial measures and natural restoration and further develop the regional shelterbelt system covering the source and upper reaches of Fenhe River, the central and northern Lyuliang Mountains, Xinshui River basin and the Loess Plateau.