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China's Great Green Wall project has planted around 66 billion trees since 1978 to help slow the expansion of the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts, reduce soil erosion, and restore degraded land. A new study found that these planted forests are increasing their leaf growth about 66% faster than nearby natural forests. After accounting for factors such as forest age, climate, and tree species, the planted forests still grew about 4.6% faster than natural forests. Researchers say the rapid growth is largely due to the forests being relatively young, the use of fast-growing tree species such as poplar and eucalyptus, and active forest management. Planted forests now account for about 7% of the world's forest cover, making them an increasingly important part of global reforestation efforts. The researchers say the faster growth may allow these forests to absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) more rapidly during their early decades of growth. However, they also emphasize that natural forests remain essential for long-term carbon storage, biodiversity, and healthy ecosystems. The findings were published in Geophysical Research Letters.