Turkmen and Chinese scientists have expanded cooperation in desert studies under the Belt and Road Initiative. Joint work between Turkmenistan’s National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna and the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences focuses on China’s practical experience in protecting transport infrastructure under extreme climatic conditions.
A key focus is the world’s longest highway built across a desert, which runs through the Taklamakan Desert. The route stretches more than 560 kilometers, and its stable operation is ensured by an artificial forest belt covering more than 3,000 hectares, according to the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper, published Monday.
The man-made ecosystem includes about 20 million drought-resistant plants that protect the highway from shifting sands. It is supported by a system of electrified wells using mineralized water.