Great Green Wall ecological restoration project

The Great Green Wall initiative, an ecological engineering project spanning nearly 8,000 kilometers from Senegal to Djibouti, is undergoing strategic shifts to combat desertification in the Sahel. Originally designed as a massive planting of trees in straight lines, the project has transitioned to a mosaic approach. This change follows scientific findings that large tree plantings in semi-arid zones resulted in low survival rates and depleted local aquifers. Instead, experts are prioritizing shrubs to improve sustainability and climate adaptation.

The initiative aims to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land, sequester 250 million tons of carbon, and create 10 million jobs in support of UN 2030 goals. Current efforts also emphasize supporting traditional agriculture and managing local lands to maintain woody cover.

Renewed interest in large-scale restoration, including the Green Dam in Algeria and the Great Green Wall, has been driven by extreme heatwaves across the Mediterranean. Historical research suggests these efforts aim to reconnect with the vegetation and water systems present during Africa’s former humid periods, such as the era when the Sahara hosted massive inland seas and lush savannas.