Climate crisis drives interest in large-scale ecological restoration in Africa

Recurrent extreme heatwaves across the Mediterranean are highlighting the accelerating climate crisis and its impact on health, economies, and ecosystems. This environmental pressure has renewed strategic interest in large-scale ecological restoration initiatives, such as the Green Dam in Algeria and the Great Green Wall in Africa.

Historical paleoclimatic studies, including research from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and UNESCO, indicate that Africa was not always arid. During the African Humid Period, the Sahara hosted massive inland seas like Lake Mega-Chad, which covered approximately 1,000,000 square kilometers, as well as significant river systems and lush savannas. Current regeneration efforts aim to reconnect with this historical water and vegetation memory.