An African region that was just recently relying on food aid in order to survive today is thriving, with around half a million people feeding off its once drought-ridden land.
The Great Green Wall’s success has led to many speculating if it could be the key to ending hunger in Africa and beyond.
Youtuber Andrew Millison went to Niger, a region bordering Africa’s Sahara Desert, and discovered that by reworking the land’s previous dry soil and lack of water, an Africa Great Green Wall was developed, creating rain pockets and rejuvenating the land.
This wall of rain pockets, known as the Great Green Wall Accelerator, is currently being planted from east to west in Africa, holding back the Saharan desert.
Planting more greenery in a desert proved tricky, particularly as the region experiences nine months of drought per year.
Alongside the dry months, the region also experienced a flood also known as a drought flood cycle.
As the land experienced these bouts of intense rainwater, floods were created and found in the low-land regions, where the soil was unable to absorb it.
But this floodwater was key in creating Africa’s great green wall.
By digging half-moon holes at different sections of the land, these structures were able to absorb this rainfall in a unique way and hold onto it for longer.
It is based on the principle of creating small depressions in the soil that collect and store rainwater, allowing the surrounding soil and seeds to prosper thanks to the abundance of water.
This simple structure could store all this flood water by intercepting it with its deep pits dug inside and outside known as ‘zai pits’.
This allowed for deep soakage of rainwater into the ground, allowing trees to be planted around it, and grass and other seeds germinating with the rains to join in, too.
These half-moon dugouts attracted birds and winds, which brought in more seeds to these spots, eventually creating a concentration point for water, nutrients, plants, and animals.
As the trees grew, the areas became shadier, and this concentration point grew and thrived.
The idea for the Great Green Wall took shape in 2007 and is not on track to meet the aim of completion by 2030.
The wall will span 22 African countries and aim to revitalise thousands of communities across the continent.
These growing spots in the desert are becoming so lush they’re even visible via satellite images.
The success of this biodiversity found among the Great Green Wall could also indicate the key to growing food.
Among its many other benefits, this wall also buffers the nearby towns and provides a canopy against the harsh and dry Saharan winds.
This allows for even more restoration, as far more foods can be planted thanks to this protection, which includes plants for culinary and medicinal purposes.
