The “Great Green Wall” project has been in progress for 17 years and has successfully restored over 7.7 million hectares of land across Africa. The project aims to combat desertification caused by deforestation, agricultural expansion, and drought in various parts of the continent. More than a dozen African countries are participating in this ambitious project, with plans to regrow trees and crops on 100 million hectares of land, an area larger than California.
The main goal of the Great Green Wall project is to create 10 million jobs and reduce 250 million tons of carbon by 2030. Countries from Senegal to Djibouti are working together to re-green the semi-arid Sahel region. Deforestation in West Africa has significantly reduced forest cover since 1975, leading to soil erosion, reduced fertility, and loss of biodiversity.
The African Union officially launched the project in 2007, with 11 countries initially participating and others joining in later years. However, the project has faced challenges, including poor tree survival rates, difficulties in caring for trees in remote areas, and lack of involvement of local indigenous communities. Governments have also faced criticism for relocating people from forested areas.
Despite these challenges, some countries have achieved success with small-scale projects initiated by farmers. Techniques such as farmer-managed natural regeneration and traditional planting methods have shown positive results. Drones and satellites are now being used to monitor reclaimed land and tree populations, with the support of organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
In 2023, the United Nations Development Program reported that the Great Green Wall project was 18% complete, with over 7.7 million hectares of land restored and 350,000 jobs created. Efforts are ongoing to continue re-greening the Sahel region and combat desertification in Africa.