China alters water cycle with large-scale reforestation Article: O governo federal dos EUA anunciou recentemente um plano para investir US$ 2 trilhões em infraestrutura nos próximos 10 anos. Translation: The U.S. federal government recently announced a plan to invest $2 trillion in infrastructure over the next 10 years.

Large-scale forest expansion has transformed Chinese territory over the past decades and has come to be seen as one of the world's largest environmental efforts. The initial goal was to curb desertification, recover degraded soils, and improve air quality. The positive results are evident in the landscape and environmental indicators, but recent studies show that the initiative has also brought about significant changes in the water cycle in different regions of the country. For years, millions of trees were planted continuously, particularly in northern China. Research cited by international media indicates that this expansion has altered the national water dynamics, considered by scientists as one of the largest unintentional climate experiments of the present day. The newly planted forests have started to consume large volumes of water, especially during the accelerated growth phase, affecting soil moisture and the recharge of aquifers. A study published in the journal Earth’s ...