Stretching nearly 8,000 kilometres from the Atlantic coast of Senegal to the Red Sea nation of Djibouti, Africa’s Great Green Wall is one of the largest environmental restoration projects ever undertaken.
Launched by the African Union in 2007, the initiative spans the Sahel, the vast semi-arid belt separating the Sahara Desert from the greener savannas to the south. While often described as an “8,000-km wall of trees,” the project has evolved into something far more ambitious than planting a continuous line of forests.
Its goal is to restore degraded landscapes, combat desertification, strengthen food security, create millions of jobs and help communities adapt to climate change.
More than just a wall of trees
The original vision was to establish a green belt approximately 8,000 kilometres long and 15 kilometres wide across Africa.
Over time, however, scientists concluded that restoring entire ecosystems would be more effective than planting a single line of trees. Today, the project focuses on reviving forests, grasslands, wetlands, farmland and native vegetation according to local environmental conditions.
Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, participating countries use locally suited methods such as planting indigenous tree species, protecting naturally regenerating forests, improving soil quality, harvesting rainwater and promoting sustainable farming practices.
Why the Sahel needs restoration
The Sahel has long been one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions.
Decades of desertification, prolonged droughts, land degradation and rising temperatures have reduced agricultural productivity, threatening the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on farming and livestock.
The Great Green Wall seeks to reverse this trend by restoring healthy soils, improving water retention, increasing vegetation cover and making farmland more productive. The initiative is also expected to strengthen biodiversity, improve food security and reduce the economic pressures that often drive migration.
Ambitious targets for 2030
By the end of the decade, the Great Green Wall aims to:
- Restore 100 million hectares of degraded land—an area roughly the size of Egypt.
- Capture 250 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- Create 10 million green jobs across Africa.
- Improve food security and livelihoods for millions of people living in the Sahel.
The initiative is supported by more than 20 African countries, alongside international organisations, development banks and environmental partners.
Progress so far
Although the project still faces significant challenges, notable progress has already been made.
Countries including Senegal, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Niger have restored large areas of degraded land through tree planting, natural regeneration and sustainable land management programmes.
According to recent assessments, around 30 million hectares have already been restored. However, experts say achieving the project’s 2030 targets will require increased funding, stronger regional cooperation and improved security in conflict-affected areas.
Restoring ecosystems—and communities
The benefits of the Great Green Wall extend well beyond environmental conservation.
Healthy ecosystems help stabilise soils, reduce erosion, improve groundwater recharge and store carbon that would otherwise contribute to global warming. Restored landscapes also provide habitat for wildlife while making farms more resilient during periods of drought.
For local communities, healthier land often translates into better harvests, more reliable grazing for livestock and improved incomes.
A global model for climate action
The Great Green Wall is widely regarded as one of the world’s largest ecosystem restoration initiatives.
Its importance extends far beyond Africa, offering a model for tackling land degradation and climate change in other dry regions around the world. The project demonstrates that environmental restoration and economic development can reinforce one another, improving both ecosystems and human well-being.
Unlike walls built to divide people, Africa’s Great Green Wall is designed to reconnect landscapes, restore nature and strengthen communities. Its lasting success will be measured not simply by the number of trees planted, but by healthier ecosystems, more resilient livelihoods and a more sustainable future for millions of people across the Sahel.
