The Great Green Wall of Africa

The Great Green Wall of Africa

How do you stop the threat of desertification? Well, according to an idea backed by the Africa Union, you build a wall. But not just any wall, a wall of trees.

The idea to plan a vast tree belt across Africa from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the east has gained a long of support in recent years since it was first conceived in 2005 and has been dubbed 'The Great Green Wall of Africa'.

If the project goes ahead, the tree belt will be 15km (nine miles) wide and 7,775km (4,831 miles) long. This 'green barrier' will stop the encroachment of the Sahara Desert which is steadily increasing across the African continent. It is hoped that the trees will be able to counter soil erosion, slow wind speeds, as well as stop further desertification.

Like green belts around the world, the Great Green Wall of Africa will also be spared human interference such as mono-cropping and overgrazing which play a part in the desertification process.

Governmental support

The project has found the favour of Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, who last week was in Chad to discuss the threat of desertification. As part of Senegal's backing of the scheme, a website has been created dedicated to the Great Green Wall of Africa.

However, not all the African nations are as behind the idea as Senegal, who have said they will spend abut US$2 million on the project and encourage tree planting.

Speaking to the BBC's former Chad correspondent Celeste Hicks, the country has made efforts in the past to plant green belts around the capital, but little has been none to move the tress from the nurseries to the urban environment.

As such, N'Djamena has been described as a 'dustbowl' in recent years as the Sahara Desert gets closer and closer.

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