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The restoration of China's Loess Plateau, supported by the Chinese government and the World Bank, utilized terracing and afforestation to combat severe soil erosion and sand storms. While the project significantly increased grain output, reduced sediment in the Yellow River by 99%, and boosted rural incomes, it faces sustainability risks. These include a high percentage of farmers who would recultivate slopes if subsidies end, low survival rates of non-native tree species, and concerns that large-scale afforestation may exacerbate water shortages in a warming climate.