June 23, 2006—With swirling sands periodically blasting Beijing, China is already approximately 17 percent desert, and that number is growing. (See a Chinese sandstorm photo.)

The encroaching sands are killing rich farmlands, infiltrating lungs, delaying airplane traffic, and contributing to car accidents. A project to plant a "great wall of trees" is showing small signs of success, but it may not be enough to save northern China from a desiccated future.