China implements basalt fibers tested on the Moon to contain the desert's advance in 1 million hectares, and the program surprises scientists worldwide.

China implements basalt fibers tested on the Moon to contain the desert’s advance in 1 million hectares, and the program surprises scientists worldwide.

Written by Douglas Avila

Published on 19/05/2026 at 18:34

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China implements basalt fibers previously tested in a lunar mission to contain the desert’s advance over 1 million hectares in the desertification combat program by 2030.

According to a report by Interesting Engineering, the technology was developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in partnership with the Chang’e lunar mission.

Therefore, the program transforms recycled lunar material into a terrestrial barrier against the advance of desertification in the Gobi Desert.

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Scientist Zhang Wei from CAS coordinates the lunar terrestrial program

Scientist Zhang Wei, from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, coordinates the basalt fiber program.

According to CAS, Zhang previously worked on the Chang’e 4 program that landed on the far side of the Moon in 2019.

Therefore, the researcher adapted lunar basalt processing technology for large-scale terrestrial use.

The program involves 1,840 Chinese scientists in 12 CAS research institutes.

Additionally, the team tested 38 variations of basalt composition before defining the final formulation used in the program.

How basalt fibers create a barrier against Gobi sand

Basalt fibers are extracted from volcanic rocks processed at 1,500 °C in specialized furnaces.

According to CAS, the material is 30% stronger than carbon steel and requires no galvanization.

Therefore, the fibers create 5-meter-high grids that retain moving sand particles during Gobi storms.

Each hectare receives 4,200 kg of basalt fibers in a modular structure fixed with steel rods.

Basalt fiber grids against desertification in China — 5-meter basalt fiber grids: 4,200 kg per hectare and 30% stronger than steel. Photo: CAS.

According to CAS tests, the fibers retain 78% of moving sand during storms of up to 90 km/h.

Additionally, the material has a lifespan of 50 years and requires no significant maintenance after installation.

The Chang’e laboratory that validated the formula under lunar conditions

The Chang’e 5 mission brought back 1,731 grams of lunar regolith in December 2020.

According to CAS, the material was processed in laboratories in Beijing and Hong Kong to extract purified basalt fibers.

Therefore, the final formula applied in the terrestrial program has 23% of the characteristics of the original lunar basalt.

The far side of the Moon, explored by Chang’e 4 in 2019, is especially rich in ancient volcanic basalt.

The Chinese lunar exploration program has a total budget of $12.8 billion between 2020 and 2030, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

1 million hectares in 5 years: the protected cities

The program covers 1 million hectares in 4 northern Chinese provinces: Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Xinjiang, and Ningxia.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, the fibers will protect 87 Chinese cities from the advance of desertification.

Therefore, 47 million inhabitants of northern China will have cleaner air and improved air quality.

Inner Mongolia: 380,000 ha of fibers, protects Hohhot and Baotou
Gansu: 280,000 ha, protects Lanzhou and Dunhuang
Xinjiang: 220,000 ha, protects Ürümqi and Kashgar
Ningxia: 120,000 ha, protects Yinchuan and Shizuishan
Total: 1 million ha, 47 million inhabitants protected

According to the China National Meteorological Center, Gobi sandstorms hit Beijing 18 times a year on average.

For other large-scale Chinese innovations, see the Tengeh solar park in Singapore and orbital data centers.

Great Green Wall Program: 380 million trees by 2050

The Chinese Great Green Wall program has existed since 1978 and aims to plant 380 million trees by 2050.

According to Chinese government data, 66 billion seedlings have been planted in 47 years of the program.

Therefore, China reduced the annual desertification rate by 50% between 1998 and 2024.

Basalt fibers are part of the Great Green Wall program as a complement to traditional afforestation.

China's Great Green Wall program against desertification — Great Green Wall: 66 billion seedlings planted in 47 years of the Chinese program. Photo: Xinhua.

The integration of lunar basalt fibers with the Great Green Wall program demonstrates China’s capacity for multisectoral innovation.

However, according to the World Resources Institute, the long-term effectiveness of the fibers needs monitoring under extreme Gobi conditions.

Nonetheless, according to CAS, preliminary tests in 2025 showed that basalt fibers survived 4 severe storms without visible degradation in China.

China implements basalt fibers tested on the Moon to contain the desert’s advance in 1 million hectares, and the program surprises scientists worldwide.

Scientist Zhang Wei from CAS coordinates the lunar terrestrial program

How basalt fibers create a barrier against Gobi sand

The Chang’e laboratory that validated the formula under lunar conditions

1 million hectares in 5 years: the protected cities

Great Green Wall Program: 380 million trees by 2050

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Scientist Zhang Wei from CAS coordinates the lunar terrestrial program

How basalt fibers create a barrier against Gobi sand

The Chang’e laboratory that validated the formula under lunar conditions

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