The Great Green Wall of Africa is a project launched by the African Union in 2007 as a strategy to limit the expansion of the Sahara and combat desertification in the Sahel.

This map, published in 2020 by The Great Green Wall organisation, visually shows the goal of reforesting 100 million hectares to cover the more than 7,000 kilometres separating the coast of Senegal from the coast of Somalia.

According to data By August 2023, 18% of the territory had already been restored, although the effectiveness of the various countries involved was not proving to be the same. Ethiopia remained more consistent and successful in its objectives, while other countries such as Chad and Sudan, with significant internal conflicts, were having more difficulty fulfilling their part.

Part of the scientific community (ecologists and geographers) have expressed their reluctance towards this plan, as scientific evidence suggests that this type of action does not necessarily improve climates per se. You can read more about this topic here. in this article (in English).

Sources

• The Great Green Wall
• To combat the threat of desertification in the Sahel