06/13/2026
The Sahara Desert is often seen as unstoppable.
Stretching across much of North Africa, it is the largest hot desert on Earth. For decades, communities along its southern edge have faced the challenge of desertification as fertile land gradually becomes more difficult to farm and sustain.
Rather than accept that future, more than 20 African nations chose to work together.
Their answer is the Great Green Wall, one of the most ambitious environmental restoration projects ever attempted. Spanning thousands of miles across the Sahel region, the initiative focuses on restoring degraded land, planting trees, improving soil health, supporting sustainable agriculture, and creating new economic opportunities for local communities.
The project is about far more than trees.
Restored landscapes help farmers produce food, protect water resources, support wildlife, reduce erosion, and strengthen resilience against drought and climate challenges. Millions of hectares have already been restored, with communities across the region leading efforts to bring life back to land that was once considered lost.
What makes the Great Green Wall remarkable is that it is built on cooperation. Countries, communities, scientists, and local leaders are working toward a shared goal: leaving future generations with healthier land than they inherited.
In a world often focused on division, the Great Green Wall stands as a reminder that some of humanity's biggest challenges can only be solved together.
If completed, it may become one of the greatest environmental success stories of our time.
What environmental project anywhere in the world gives you the most hope?
