A Green Wall to Promote Peace and Restore Nature in Africa’s Sahel Region

Feb 22, 2023 | UNEP
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To tackle the impacts of climate change and biodversity loss, the countries of Africa’s Sahel region are mounting an epic response: a “wall” of restored forests and lands stretching more than 8,000 km across the continent.

The Great Green Wall is a spectacular initiative designed to help people and nature cope with the growing impact of the climate emergency and the degradation of vital ecosystems, and to keep the Sahara desert from spreading deeper into one of the world’s poorest regions.

Launched by the African Union in 2007, the Great Green Wall has grown from an ambitious tree-planting drive into a comprehensive rural development initiative. The goal has shifted from a literal wall of trees to transforming millions of lives by creating a mosaic of green and productive landscapes across 11 countries. So far, almost 18 million ha of degraded land have been restored.