Desertification reversal in Ethiopia and Sahara

Efforts to combat desertification in Ethiopia and the Sahara region have shown success through both human intervention and natural processes. In northern Ethiopia, the construction of ditches and canals has restored 23,000 hectares of land previously damaged by deforestation, overgrazing, and climate change. In the Sahara, the introduction of African spurred tortoises has aided land greening, as their burrowing behavior breaks soil crusts to allow better rainwater infiltration.

Recent satellite imagery and hydrogeological observations indicate a broader trend of increased vegetation and water availability across the Sahel, stretching from Ethiopia to Senegal. Groundwater levels in some areas have risen by as much as four meters, refilling wadis and dried wells. Experts suggest this shift is driven by intense monsoons and extreme rainfall resulting from a warming North Atlantic and reduced air pollution from European coal plants, which has increased moisture transport over the continent. While these heavy rains contribute to deadly flooding, they are also replenishing essential water reserves for local ecosystems and agriculture.