Great Green Wall initiative targets Sahel desertification

The Great Green Wall is an ambitious nature restoration initiative spanning approximately 8,000 kilometers across the Sahel region, stretching from Senegal on the Atlantic coast to Djibouti on the Red Sea. Launched by the African Union in 2007, the project aims to combat desertification and land degradation caused by climate change.

While originally conceived as a continuous 15-kilometer-wide belt of trees, the project has evolved into a more complex ecological effort. It now focuses on restoring diverse ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, and agricultural lands, tailored to local climatic conditions. The initiative seeks to improve soil quality, enhance food security, and create better living conditions for millions of people in one of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions.