The Great Green Wall
In 2007, the African Union helped establish an initiative to transform the degraded landscapes across Africa to fight against desertification and the effects of climate change by planting a line of trees stretching from west to east across the continent. The original 11 countries that signed up to develop the Panafrican Agency of the Great Green Wall (PAGGW) are: Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan and Chad. This 8 Billion dollar project aims to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land by the year 2030. This would create 350,000 rural jobs and absorb 250 million tons of CO2 from the air. As of 2016, only 15% of the targeted acreage has been planted
One of the major issues surrounding the initiative is the security of volunteers and workers as some of these countries have terrorist activity which puts the lives of these people at stake as they could be robbed, kidnapped, or even killed while helping out the environment.
This story of a large number of countries coming together to work towards a goal shows how these countries uphold their social contracts with their citizens because they want to ensure they have a stable environment to live in and that their posterity will have one too.
https://www.greatgreenwall.org has tons more information about the initiative and has opportunities for people to donate or sign the pledge.
oceanmtnsky • Sep 13, 2019 at 8:42 am
I really like the source you used and plan to research more about it. I had not heard of this before. This project relates to the United Nations Global Goals.
DbVeiw • Sep 13, 2019 at 8:30 am
it show how we the people should help everybody because we are all the same and help when needed
rdubbs • Sep 13, 2019 at 8:27 am
I think it is good that other countries are interested and trying to help Africa, it’s a smart idea to plant trees along the desert. As it should be beneficial to the land and Africa, opening up jobs as well as other opportunities that would help the country itself.
Tomako • Sep 13, 2019 at 8:27 am
the volunteers should get paid if they are risking their lives
guttadev • Sep 13, 2019 at 8:26 am
This article shows the importance of countries coming together to better the environment and help global warming, but encouraged me that it wouldn’t hurt to help out my community or even my school by cleaning up or driving less to not pollute the air.
AV-M • Sep 13, 2019 at 8:25 am
The volunteers are risking their lives by helping the future generations. They can get killed, kidnapped and robbed just for plating trees across the continent.
AV-M • Sep 13, 2019 at 8:22 am
The volunteers are risking their lives to give the future generations a better life by planting trees.
LionHeart1027 • Sep 13, 2019 at 8:16 am
It could also be said that while these volunteers and citizens may be putting their lives at risk but at the same time it can be said that they are also giving their future generation a better quality of life. What we choose to do today will affect not only our tomorrow but that of all future generations to come. We need to think carefully whether or not we are helping improve or further destroy the planet we call home.
oceanmtnsky • Sep 12, 2019 at 9:34 pm
This story is evidence of global citizens working to ensure that the United Nations 2015 “SDGs” or Sustainable Development Goals are met. It is encouraging. Here is a link for more information: https://www.globalgoals.org/