# Great Green Wall ecological restoration project > Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/great-green-wall-ecological-restoration-project > Updated: 2026-11-01T05:23:13.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2. 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. ## Timeline ### 2026-11-01: Climate crisis drives interest in large-scale ecological restoration in Africa Extreme heatwaves in the Mediterranean are driving renewed interest in large-scale ecological restoration projects like Africa's Great Green Wall to combat the accelerating climate crisis. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/climate-crisis-drives-interest-in-large-scale-ecological-restoration-in-africa ### 2026-10-26: Great Green Wall project evolves to combat Sahel desertification Africa's Great Green Wall project is shifting from planting large trees to a mosaic of shrubs to more effectively restore 100 million hectares of land and combat desertification by 2030. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/great-green-wall-project-evolves-to-combat-sahel-desertification --- Cite as: Great Green Wall ecological restoration project. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/great-green-wall-ecological-restoration-project