In 2007, the Great Green Wall aimed to restore 100 million hectares across Africa's Sahel. 19 years later, Ethiopia, Senegal and Nigeria have restored millions of hectares of land

Great Green Wall land restoration Africa: African countries launched the Great Green Wall initiative in 2007 to address land degradation across the Sahel and other dryland areas stretching from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the east.

The initiative set a target of restoring 100 million hectares of degraded land, sequestering 250 million tonnes of carbon and creating 10 million green jobs by 2030.

Nearly two decades after its launch, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) says almost 18 million hectares of degraded land have been restored across the Great Green Wall countries.

Ethiopia reports 1 million hectares restored

Ethiopia has recorded substantial restoration under the Great Green Wall.

UNCCD's Great Green Wall impact data lists 1 million hectares of land restored in the country. It also reports 151,448 hectares of reforested land, 792,711 hectares of restored terraces and 236,551 hectares under assisted natural regeneration of forests.

The same data records more than 5 billion plants and seeds produced and 218,405 jobs created through the country's Great Green Wall activities.

The restoration work includes reforestation, assisted natural regeneration and other land-restoration measures rather than relying solely on tree planting.

Nigeria combines reforestation with windbreaks

Nigeria's Great Green Wall programme includes reforestation and other measures to address land degradation.

UNCCD reports 2,801 hectares of reforested land and 709 kilometres of windbreaks in Nigeria. The country has also recorded 373 hectares of multipurpose gardens and the production of 7.6 million plants and seedlings.

UNCCD's figures show that 1,396 jobs have been created through Nigeria's Great Green Wall activities.

Nigeria's National Agency for the Great Green Wall says its programme began in 2013 and covers frontline states in northern Nigeria. The country's work forms part of the wider Great Green Wall target of restoring 100 million hectares by 2030.

Senegal focuses on forest restoration

Senegal has carried out Great Green Wall activities since 2008.

UNCCD reports 72,452 hectares of reforested land in the country. The Great Green Wall route in Senegal covers 545 kilometres and an area of 817,500 hectares, with activities concentrated in parts of Tambacounda, Matam and Louga.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported in 2024 that Senegal planned to restore up to 2 million hectares of degraded agro-sylvo-pastoral land over the following decade.

The Great Green Wall has evolved beyond a tree belt

The Great Green Wall is no longer focused on creating a single continuous line of trees across Africa.

UNCCD describes it as a landscape-restoration initiative involving 11 countries. Its work includes restoring degraded land, strengthening food systems, creating economic opportunities and building resilience in communities affected by land degradation and drought.

The initiative's 2030 target remains 100 million hectares of restored land. With almost 18 million hectares reported as restored so far, the programme still has a significant amount of restoration work ahead.