The Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, launched in 1978, is an ambitious afforestation project in the “Three-North” regions, which refer to the north, northwest, and northeast of China.

Focusing on implementation of this program, the Institute of Applied Ecology developed novel cultivation theories and targeted cultivation technologies. It was the first to propose construction ideas and structural optimization technologies based on total water resources and ecosystem coordination. It also established a long-term, multi-scale, and multi-factor integrated evaluation system.

Through innovations on scientific theories and technologies, the Institute has ensured that shelterbelt forests are efficient, stable, and sustainable, providing core support for key forestry eco-engineering projects such as the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program in China.