Desertification of the northern part of Africa is one of the biggest concerns of the continent. It can drastically affect the region’s ecological landscape, resulting in lower vegetation and loss of animal habitat. That’s why the African Union started the Great Green Wall Initiative in 2007. It aims to restore the degrading and support local communities by building a natural wall between arid and fertile lands. So, let’s learn more about the project and how it inspired several similar projects worldwide.
Great Green Wall Initiative
Launched in 2007, the project has set many great goals by the end of 2030. Firstly, it aims to strengthen the Sahel region, a transition zone between desert and savannah. Additionally, the project aims for 100 million hectares of land while simultaneously creating over 10 million jobs.
Below are some of the major participating countries.
- Senegal
- Nigeria
- Ethiopia
- Sudan
4 Key Objectives of the Great Green Wall
The four significant aims of the project are listed below.
- Combat desertification and climate change.
- Restore 100 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
- Create 10 million green jobs.
- Capture 250 million tons of carbon dioxide.
Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts
Many positive certainties are linked with the Great Green Wall project. First is the restoration of ecosystems, which will increase the region’s soil fertility and agricultural productivity. This will have a positive impact on the production of food and improve the quality of the water.
- Job creation.
- Sustainable farming.
- Tourism opportunities.
Current Progress Of The Great Green Wall Initiative
As of today, the activity on the initiative is behind the targets set for 2030. 2025, the project will cover an estimated 18% of the restoration. There are a lot of factors that contribute to this slow progress—funding, corruption, and losses. Therefore, it’s not wrong to speculate that the project will take longer than expected outcomes.
Challenges Facing The Initiative
Like any other initiative, the Great Green Wall is stuck between the limitations of human efforts. There are a lot of factors that are stagnating the entire process. Some of those are listed below. And without solving these issues, it’s a tough road to move ahead.
- Financial constraints.
- Investment needs.
- Political instability.
- Regional conflicts.
- Climate change impacts.
- Resource scarcity.
Future Outlook And Your Support
The future of the Great Green Wall is challenging because of several issues. However, with global and local support, things will improve. Many organizations like the UN and World Bank are promoting international collaborations and promising funding. As a result, the project has to show more promise and results.
- Donations.
- Advocacy
- Awareness.
You can even contribute to the project by being vocal about the progress. This will spread the message to influential people who can further improve the project’s progress. Lastly, supporting sustainable products from the African regions will contribute to the good cause.
Final Thoughts On the Great Green Wall
The Great Green Wall Initiative, launched in 2007, aims to combat desertification and climate change in northern Africa by restoring degraded land. Including major participating countries like Senegal and Sudan, the project aims to strengthen the Sahel region and restore over 100 million hectares of land. Despite slow progress, the initiative faces challenges such as funding, corruption, and losses. Thus, the project can achieve its initial goals only through global and local support.
FAQs
What is the budget of the project?
The estimated budget for the project is well over 2 billion dollars.
Is the Great Green Wall successful?
By the end of 2020, the project is only 4% completed. Therefore, it’s lagging behind its aim.
What is the Great Green Wall of China project?
It is the massive reforestation project taking place in North China.