Africa

African Countries Are Building A Wall Of Trees To Halt Desertification

African countries along the Sahara have been building up green space to stop desertification.

African Countries Are Building A Wall Of Trees To Halt Desertification
joepyrek / CC BY SA 2.0
Article by Melissa Prax
SMS
December 23, 2015

African countries are building a wall of trees and vegetation 4,349 miles long to prevent desertification. (Video via Global Environment Facility)

Desertification is caused by climate change and human life. Desertification near the African Sahara makes water and animals harder to find, making it increasingly difficult to live there. (Video via United Nations)

The "Great Green Wall" was started by 11 countries in Africa in 2007.

So is it working? 

"During the cool season, we grow fruit and vegetables," one Senegal villager said. "The Great Green Wall provides the seeds." 

Senegal is one of the biggest trailblazers for the project. Almost 62,000 acres have been restored in the country. (Video via Al Jazeera)

But, the project still has a way to go. (Video via Time)

The 10-year goal is to get 123 million more acres restored.

The original budget was $2 billion from the World Bank. Thanks to the COP21 climate conference, $4 billion will be coming over the next five years. 

This video includes images from Getty Images and joepyrek / CC BY SA 2.0.