Restoration in China

Project Overview
Across China’s immense and varied landscapes, ambitious reforestation and ecosystem restoration efforts are reversing decades of environmental degradation while unlocking measurable climate benefits for future generations. From the highland grasslands of Qinghai to the rugged karst hills of Guizhou, and from the desert margins of Gansu to the forests of Inner Mongolia, Anhui, and Hubei, a suite of AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use) carbon offset projects is transforming degraded terrain into thriving, resilient ecosystems.

Certified under internationally recognized AFOLU carbon standards, these projects form one of the world’s most expansive restoration networks. Together, they deliver verifiable emission reductions, conserve biodiversity, protect watersheds, and provide tangible benefits for rural communities across China.

 
A Mosaic of Ecological Renewal
Though spread across distinct provinces and ecosystems, the seven initiatives collectively form a powerful tapestry of renewal. In the northwest’s Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province, the Zhangye Improved Grassland Management Project is bringing life back to 261,000 hectares of overgrazed and desertified grasslands. By reseeding with native forage, introducing rotational grazing, and implementing pest management, the land is recovering its natural resilience and is expected to sequester over 29 million tonnes of CO₂e in four decades.

Further west, in Qinghai’s Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the Guoluo Grassland Sustainable Management Project is combating the erosion phenomenon known locally as “black soil beach.” Spanning 160,000 hectares at the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang Rivers, the project restores grassland productivity while strengthening water regulation in Asia’s most critical watershed. By buffering against glacier retreat and climate instability, it ensures resilience for millions downstream.

In southern China’s Guizhou Province, the Miaoling Afforestation Project is transforming barren karst hills into rich, green forests. More than 30,000 hectares are being planted with native species such as China fir, Masson pine, and Pinus yunnanensis. Over the next 30 years, these forests will store 13.7 million tonnes of CO₂. Beyond its climate benefits, the project has created over 18,000 jobs, with women filling 60 percent of these roles—a vivid example of restoration driving social equity.

To the east, in Anhui Province, the Hechu Afforestation Project is converting 30,000 hectares of barren hills into diverse broadleaf forests. This work enhances biodiversity, improves soil and water conservation in the lower Yangtze basin, and will reduce nearly 9.4 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions over 20 years, while providing rural families with new income opportunities.

Meanwhile, in central China’s Hubei Province, the Hongshan Improved Forest Management Project covers over 300,000 hectares. By converting logged forests into permanently protected areas, it safeguards carbon stocks, strengthens biodiversity, and preserves one of central China’s most important forest ecosystems.

Farther north, in Inner Mongolia, the Keyihe IFM Project protects 20,526 hectares of birch and larch forest once destined for logging. By halting deforestation and preventing soil erosion, the project secures vital habitats for native wildlife and locks away carbon for the long term.

Finally, across multiple state-owned forests in Hunan Province—including Jinzhu, Zhaoxie, Zengtian, Niutian, Shipi, and Gongxi—the Hunan IFM Project safeguards 7,747 hectares. Over three decades, these forests will remove 2.9 million tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere, while reinforcing ecological stability in southern China.

 
Verified Climate and Social Benefits
Together, these seven initiatives directly address the urgent challenges of land degradation, desertification, biodiversity loss, and watershed vulnerability. Each is certified under rigorous international AFOLU standards, ensuring that every tonne of CO₂ sequestered or avoided is verifiable and transparent. Their co-benefits extend beyond climate: they safeguard wildlife habitats, stabilize soils, protect water sources, and generate meaningful employment in rural areas.

By linking ecological health with social progress, the projects demonstrate how restoration can drive both resilience and equity, ensuring that climate action benefits people as much as ecosystems.

 
Evertreen’s Role
Evertreen is not the developer of these projects. Rather, our role is to act as an intermediary, connecting individuals and organizations worldwide with certified restoration work on the ground. Through our platform, supporters can fund reforestation and ecosystem restoration across China, confident that their contributions are tied to independently verified carbon benefits and long-lasting ecological outcomes.

 
A National Model of Restoration
Spanning grasslands, forests, and fragile karst systems, these projects illustrate that ecological restoration is not confined to one landscape or one community—it is a shared journey across provinces, cultures, and ecosystems. Together, they create a living model of renewal, proving that degraded lands can once again become sources of resilience, biodiversity, and climate stability.

Supporting this initiative means contributing to one of the world’s most ambitious national efforts to restore nature and confront climate change—helping to secure a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come.