China has executed one of the largest ecological projects ever, planting trees across an area equivalent to the size of Algeria, according to Wirtualna Polska.
Since the 1980s, an estimated 78 billion trees have been planted in China. However, an analysis by scientists from Tianjin, Utrecht, and China Agricultural University indicates that the “Great Green Wall” project has had significant side effects.
The researchers found that the extensive tree planting has critically limited water resources in the eastern and northwestern regions, which cover 74% of China’s territory.
The study highlights that the new forests have increased evapotranspiration—the combination of water evaporation from the soil and its release from plants. Consequently, moisture has shifted to the Tibetan Plateau, leaving densely populated eastern China with a water deficit, thus converting grasslands to forests “increases evaporation and precipitation but worsens the water balance.”
The issue is compounded by the fact that North China holds 46% of the population yet only possesses 20% of the water resources.
The scientists stress that “further reforestation programs in China must consider changes in the hydrological cycle” to prevent leaving entire regions without drinking water and agricultural resources.
Meanwhile, Chinese scientists have developed a novel device that harvests electricity from raindrops. Each drop generates a brief electrical pulse on a special floating film, sufficient to power multiple LEDs. Tests showed that a small 0.3 square meter panel could simultaneously illuminate 50 light bulbs.
This technology is unique as it incorporates water as part of an electrical circuit, making the system much lighter and cheaper than traditional alternatives. During tests, a 0.3 square meter prototype successfully powered 50 commercial LEDs, as the device uses water not only as a medium but also as part of the circuit, reducing cost and weight.
Illustrative photo: pexels-collins-zhao-1153333-8776823
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