Background Standardization is an effective management tool and supportive technical means in the project development and management such as ecology restoration, revegetation and mitigation of desertification, land degradation and drought effects along with operation of the Three-North Shelterbelt Project (i.e., the Great Green Wall). Many technical standards have been widely applied in fields such as desertification monitoring, vegetation restoration, ecological protection, land management and development, long-term ecosystem observation, and disaster prevention and reduction. It is aimed for providing reference for the implementation of forest land and grassland standardization in the construction of the Great Green Wall.

Methods This paper systematically summarized the implementation status and effectiveness of reforestation and grassland protection standards for operating the Great Green Wall project. It showed that necessary diagnosis were identified on existing problems such as incomplete standard system, poor integration of standard resources, lack of coordination in standards, weak implementation efforts, and low conversion rate of scientific and technological achievements. It analyzed the overall demands for standardization in terms of improving quality, extension services, establishing product brands, and international cooperation in the context of high-quality development concepts and comprehensive management of hilly lands, watershed, woodlands, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, and desert land. It also proposed the standardization innovation goals, implementation strategies, approach design ideas, and the key points of innovative construction on standardization systems.

Results This paper established the collaborative theoretical framework of "Standards-Technology-Industry-Policy", the standard system overall framework of the "ecological construction-engineering management-industry development-social services", and the design framework of the standardization approach. The following standardization implementation measures have been proposed: 1) establishing a linkage mechanism between standardization and technological innovation; 2) Integrating existing standard resources and exploring their potential applications; 3) Creating a new model of standardization pilot bases at county level for the Great Green Wall; 4) continuously promoting the conversion of scientific and technological achievement; 5)Developing and formulating an operational international standards. Additionally, it is necessary to establish a scientific, practical and well-coordinated standard system.Based on the characteristics of the entire construction process of the Great Green Wall, it proposed ways and methods to achieve standardization, including unified planning and layout, strengthening standard promotion, supervising the progress of standard implementation, and conducting standardization effectiveness evaluation. All these will accelerate the promotion and application of new technologies, new materials, and new equipment in ecological engineering construction practice.

Conclusions It suggests that the research work of standardization in the Great Green Wall construction should be prioritized and innovative, striving to build a scientific, practical, structurally complete, and organically coordinated standard system as soon as possible, promoting the deep integration of standard implementation and application with policy formulation, engineering construction, and industrial development. The paper offers constructive suggestions to high-quality development of the Great Green Wall construction and China's influence enhancing in global ecological governance. The paper offers constructive suggestions to high-quality development of the Great Green Wall construction and China's influence enhancing in global ecological governance.