The Great Green Wall: What It Is, Current Progress, and Expected Impact Of This Initiative

The vast expanse of the Sahara Desert is a place of stark beauty and harsh realities. For centuries, it has been a symbol of nature’s power, with its shifting sands and searing heat shaping the lives of those who dwell on its edges. However, in recent decades, the desert has been steadily expanding into the Sahel—a fertile region that lies just south of the Sahara, spanning the width of Africa. This creeping desertification has triggered a range of challenges, including reduced agricultural productivity, loss of biodiversity, migration as a result of the poor environment and rising poverty.

In response to these pressing issues, a bold initiative was conceived: the Great Green Wall. Born from a vision to reshape Africa's landscape, the Great Green Wall is more than just an environmental initiative; it stands as a powerful symbol of hope and resilience for millions of people in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.. As we explore the intricacies of this monumental undertaking, we will delve into what the Great Green Wall is, its current progress, and the expected impact it will have on the continent.

The Great Green Wall is an ambitious African-led initiative aimed at combating desertification, land degradation, and climate change across the Sahel region of Africa. Initially envisioned as a 7,775-kilometer-long and 15-kilometre-wide belt of trees stretching from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the east, the project has evolved over time to encompass a broader array of land restoration and sustainable development goals.

The vision for the Great Green Wall did not spring forth fully formed in the 21st century; rather, it is rooted in a long history of Sahelian adaptation and resilience in the face of environmental challenges. The idea can be traced back to the 1980s when Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary leader and then-President of Burkina Faso, first articulated the concept of a wall of trees stretching across the African continent. Sankara envisioned this green barrier as a defense against the relentless advance of the Sahara Desert, which was threatening the livelihoods of millions of people across the Sahel—a semi-arid region spanning from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the east.

Sankara’s vision was as much about social transformation as it was about environmental protection. He understood that the degradation of the land was not just an ecological issue but a socio-economic one, deeply intertwined with the lives of the people who depended on it. By advocating for massive reforestation, Sankara sought to empower communities to reclaim their land, secure their food supply, and build a sustainable future. However, his vision remained largely aspirational during his lifetime, as political upheavals and limited resources hindered its realization.

It wasn’t until 2007, more than two decades after Sankara’s death, that the African Union formally adopted the initiative, giving it new momentum. The Great Green Wall was reimagined not merely as a line of trees but as a comprehensive, multi-faceted effort to address the environmental, economic, and social challenges plaguing the Sahel. The initiative’s goals were ambitious: to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, sequester 250 million tons of carbon, and create 10 million green jobs. But these numbers, while impressive, only tell part of the story.

The true essence of the Great Green Wall lies in its potential to transform the lives of those who inhabit the Sahel. This region has long been characterized by its harsh climate, with erratic rainfall and frequent droughts making agriculture a precarious endeavor. Over the years, the combination of climate change, overgrazing, and unsustainable farming practices has led to widespread land degradation, reducing the productivity of the soil and exacerbating poverty and food insecurity. For the communities that rely on the land, the degradation of their environment is not just an abstract concept—it is a daily reality that threatens their very survival.

By focusing on land restoration, the Great Green Wall aims to reverse these trends, restoring the vitality of the Sahelian landscapes and, with it, the economic prospects of the people who live there. The initiative is designed to be holistic, integrating reforestation with sustainable agriculture, water management, and community development. This approach recognizes that planting trees alone will not be enough to achieve lasting change; it must be accompanied by efforts to improve agricultural practices, increase biodiversity, and build resilience to the impacts of climate change.

The initiative also seeks to harness the power of local knowledge and traditional practices, which have been developed over centuries in response to the challenging environment of the Sahel. These practices, such as the use of zai pits (small, circular pits that capture water and concentrate nutrients around crops) and farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR), are being integrated into the Great Green Wall’s strategies, ensuring that the solutions are not only effective but also culturally appropriate and sustainable in the long term.

Since its inception, the Great Green Wall has made significant strides, but progress has been uneven across the 11 participating countries. As of 2020, approximately 20 million hectares of land had been restored. This achievement has been made possible through the efforts of national governments, local communities, and international partners who have invested in a range of activities, from tree planting to soil restoration and sustainable agriculture.

In Senegal, one of the leading countries in the initiative, over 12 million trees have been planted, and more than 30,000 hectares of land have been restored. The project has also led to the establishment of community nurseries, where local people grow seedlings that are later transplanted to degraded areas. These efforts have not only helped to curb desertification but have also provided livelihoods for thousands of people.

Similarly, in Ethiopia, the government has implemented large-scale reforestation programs as part of the Great Green Wall. Millions of trees have been planted, and extensive efforts have been made to restore watersheds and improve soil fertility. These actions have led to increased agricultural productivity and the revival of once-barren lands.

However, the progress of the Great Green Wall has not been without challenges. The vast scale of the initiative, combined with the harsh environmental conditions of the Sahel, has made it difficult to achieve uniform success across the region. In some areas, trees have struggled to survive due to inadequate water resources, poor soil quality, and extreme temperatures. Additionally, political instability and conflicts in certain countries have hindered the implementation of the project, delaying progress and disrupting activities on the ground.

Despite these challenges, the Great Green Wall has spurred innovative approaches to land restoration and sustainable development. For instance, in Niger, farmers have adopted a technique known as Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), which involves protecting and nurturing naturally occurring trees and shrubs on farmland. This method has proven to be highly effective, leading to the regeneration of over 5 million hectares of land. The practice not only restores degraded soils but also enhances crop yields, providing both environmental and economic benefits to local communities.

Another bright spot can be found in Burkina Faso, where the construction of zai pits—small holes filled with organic matter—has helped to improve soil moisture retention and boost agricultural productivity. This traditional technique, combined with modern innovations such as agroforestry, has enabled farmers to reclaim degraded lands and increase their resilience to drought.

These success stories highlight the potential of the Great Green Wall to transform the Sahel, but they also underscore the need for continued investment, innovation, and collaboration. As the initiative moves forward, it will be crucial to build on these successes and address the challenges that have slowed progress in some areas.

One of the most compelling environmental benefits of the Great Green Wall is its potential for carbon sequestration. Through extensive reforestation and land restoration, the initiative is expected to capture up to 250 million tons of carbon dioxide, significantly contributing to global climate change mitigation efforts. This sequestration not only helps reduce the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases but also fortifies the Sahel against the destabilizing effects of climate change, offering a natural buffer that is essential for the region’s future stability.

The economic implications of the Great Green Wall are equally transformative. The initiative is projected to create 10 million green jobs, providing much-needed employment in a region where poverty and unemployment are endemic. These jobs will span a range of activities—from tree planting and sustainable agriculture to ecotourism and renewable energy—offering diverse economic opportunities for local communities. The revitalization of degraded lands will also boost agricultural productivity, ensuring greater food security for millions of people. As the soil regains its fertility, farmers will be able to grow more crops, leading to higher incomes and improved living standards, thereby reducing the pressure to migrate in search of better opportunities.

Beyond the Sahel, the economic benefits of the Great Green Wall could ripple across the continent, attracting investments in sustainable development projects. By enhancing the region’s natural capital, the initiative is likely to draw interest in areas such as renewable energy, water management, and infrastructure, creating new markets and opportunities for businesses within Africa and beyond.

The social impact of the Great Green Wall cannot be overstated as well. By addressing the root causes of poverty, land degradation, and climate change, the initiative has the potential to significantly improve the well-being of millions across the Sahel. The restoration of lands will lead to better food security, improved health outcomes, and greater access to clean water—fundamental elements for human development. Moreover, the initiative emphasizes community involvement, empowering local populations by actively involving them in the design and implementation processes. This approach strengthens social cohesion and builds local capacity for sustainable development, with particular attention to the roles of women and youth, who are often marginalized but are crucial to the initiative's success.

The Great Green Wall embodies the resilience and determination of a continent confronting the stark realities of climate change. While challenges remain, from funding gaps to political hurdles, the initiative's early successes signal a broader potential: the restoration of the Sahel is not merely an environmental undertaking but a reimagining of what sustainable development in Africa can look like even thein the face of harsh climate realities.

As communities from Djibouti to Senegal witness the gradual transformation of their landscapes, the Wall offers more than just a shield against desertification—it offers a blueprint for a future where economic growth, environmental stewardship, and social stability coexist. The ultimate success of the Great Green Wall hinges on sustained, collaborative efforts that transcend borders and sectors. It is an endeavor that requires not just an investment but a shared commitment to a vision where Africa’s natural and human resources flourish in tandem.