Why in the news?

  • Despite ambitious goals to restore 100 million hectares of land across Africa, the Great Green Wall project faces significant challenges in Senegal.

Great Green Wall Project

  • Launch: Launched by African Union in 2007
  • Supported by: UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification), FAO, UNEP, World Bank, and Global Environment Facility (GEF).
  • Geographical Coverage:
    • Region: Sahel – stretches from Senegal (West Africa) to Djibouti (East Africa).
    • Length: ~8,000 km
    • Width: ~15 km average
    • Covers: 11 core countries – Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti.
    • Extended to: 20+ countries in the Sahel and Horn of Africa regions.
  • Objectives:
    • Combat Desertification: Halt land degradation and restore soil fertility.
    • Climate Change Mitigation: Enhance carbon sequestration through vegetation.
    • Livelihood Improvement: Provide food security, jobs, and resilience for communities.
    • Biodiversity Conservation: Restore native species and protect ecosystems.
    • Water Conservation: Improve water retention and groundwater recharge.
  • Targets (2030 Vision):
    • Restore 100 million hectares of degraded land
    • Sequester 250 million tonnes of carbon
    • Create 10 million green jobs in rural areas.
  • Funding:
    • Supported by international agencies: World Bank, GEF, European Union, African Development Bank, UNCCD, etc.
    • $14 billion funding package announced at the One Planet Summit (2021) in Paris.
  • Implementation Strategy:
    • Agroforestry and sustainable land management.
    • Reforestation and natural regeneration of native vegetation.
    • Community participation and land tenure reforms.
    • Integration with UNCCD’s Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets.
  • Challenges:
    • Inadequate funding and coordination among member states.
    • Political instability and conflicts in the Sahel region.
    • Poor monitoring and maintenance of restored areas.
    • Limited local community involvement in some projects.

Senegal

  • Location: Senegal is the westernmost country in Africa.
  • Capital: Dakar
  • Borders: Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal nearly surrounds Gambia.
  • Maritime Border: Cape Verde.
  • Geography:
    • Located in Sahel region.
    • The region has tropical climate
  • International Grouping: ECOWAS, African Union.