Imagine a wall that unites rather than divides, a wall made not of concrete, but of trees, grasses, and hope. The Great Green Wall is one of the world’s most ambitious environmental initiatives, aiming to restore degraded lands in the Sahel region of Africa, located on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert.
The concept of restoring the region’s degraded landscapes through the Great Green Wall began gaining momentum in the 1980s. In 2007, the African Union led the charge for the continent’s countries to turn this long-held dream into reality. Initially, 11 nations supported the project, but today, more than 20 countries are involved, including Senegal, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Chad. On January 11, 2021, during the One Planet Summit, world leaders launched the Great Green Wall Accelerator, which raised €16 billion from international donors to fund the project from 2021 to 2025.
Goals and impact of the Great Green Wall
The primary goal of the Great Green Wall project is to create an 8,000 km long and 15 km wide “green belt” that will halt desertification, restore soil fertility, and improve the livelihoods of millions of people. The Sahel is one of the world’s most vulnerable regions, where droughts and soil erosion threaten agriculture and biodiversity. This initiative helps restore ecosystems, creating environments suitable for plants and animals to thrive.
In addition to environmental restoration, the project generates employment, improves access to water and food, and enhances resilience to climate change. It also plays a crucial role in restoring fertile land, one of humanity’s most valuable resources. As a result, the Great Green Wall improves food security for millions who suffer from hunger daily. The project also creates “green jobs,” offering real income for families in the Sahel. Furthermore, it fosters economic opportunities for small businesses and supports sustainable consumption patterns to protect the Sahel’s natural capital. By strengthening partnerships, the initiative accelerates rural development across Africa.
Challenges and innovations
Despite its ambitious goals, the Great Green Wall has faced challenges. The sheer scale of the project, coupled with the harsh environmental conditions of the Sahel, has made achieving consistent success across the region difficult. In some areas, trees have struggled to thrive due to limited water availability, poor soil quality, and extreme temperatures. Furthermore, political instability and ongoing conflicts in certain countries have impeded the project’s implementation, causing delays and disrupting on-the-ground efforts.
Despite these obstacles, the Great Green Wall has inspired creative solutions for land restoration and sustainable development. In Niger, for example, farmers have embraced a method called Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), which focuses on protecting and encouraging the growth of naturally occurring trees and shrubs on farmland. This approach has proven highly successful, leading to the regeneration of over 5 million hectares of land. Not only does it restore degraded soils, but it also improves crop yields, offering both environmental and economic advantages to local communities.
In Burkina Faso, another success story lies in the use of zai pits—small holes filled with organic matter—designed to enhance soil moisture retention and increase agricultural productivity. This traditional practice, when combined with modern techniques like agroforestry, has helped farmers rehabilitate degraded lands and bolster their resilience against drought.
A symbol of unity and peace
The Great Green Wall is more than just an environmental project; it represents hope, unity, and a sustainable future for the planet. It brings together countries, communities, and individuals to combat climate change, restore nature, and create a better future for coming generations. This ambitious project demonstrates that even in the most challenging conditions, solutions can be found that benefit both the environment and the people living on this earth.
Moreover, the Great Green Wall serves as a symbol of peace in countries where conflict has led to population displacement. Supported by international organizations such as the United Nations, the African Union, and the World Bank, as well as private investors and activists worldwide, the Great Green Wall exemplifies how humanity can unite toward a common goal, creating a sustainable future for all.
