admin | June 4, 2026
News Brief
In northwestern Nigeria, the Great Green Wall initiative is helping communities combat desertification and restore degraded land. In Garbadu village, farmers have planted drought-resistant trees on land once damaged by strong winds, poor soil, and declining rainfall. Residents report improved soil moisture, reduced erosion, and fewer dust storms. Launched by the African Union in 2007, the initiative spans 11 Sahel countries and supports land restoration, food security, and climate resilience. While insecurity and funding challenges remain, communities continue to care for restored areas and expand local conservation efforts.
In Garbadu village in northwestern Nigeria, rows of young trees now grow on land that was once dry and empty. Their green leaves sway gently in the hot Sahel wind, offering a sharp contrast to the dry, dusty landscape that surrounds them. Farmers walk carefully between the trees, checking seedlings and clearing away weeds. For many residents, the trees represent more than restoration. They are a sign of hope in a region struggling with desertification and climate change.
For years, communities in northern Nigeria have faced advancing desertification as the Sahara Desert continues to move southward. Strong winds damage homes and farmland, while declining soil fertility and unpredictable rainfall make farming increasingly difficult. In Garbadu, many farmers abandoned their fields as harvests declined and food shortages worsened.
Farmer Gadeja Shehu remembers how dust-filled winds frequently tore the roof from his home and damaged his crops. In 2021, he joined other villagers in planting trees through the Great Green Wall initiative, an African-led effort to restore degraded land across the Sahel.
Mr. Shehu says, “The project has been really impactful here. Previously strong winds would rip off our roofs, but now it is no longer frequent. Before the plantation, the soil barely held water, but now it does have moisture and the area is slowly turning green again.”
The Great Green Wall initiative was launched by the African Union in 2007 and spans 11 countries across the Sahel, including Senegal, Mali, Niger, Chad, and Nigeria. The initiative aims to restore degraded land, improve food security, create jobs, and help communities adapt to climate change.
In Nigeria, the initiative focuses on planting drought-resistant trees across vulnerable northern states. But the project is not only about planting trees. It also promotes soil and water conservation, supports agriculture and livestock production, and creates employment opportunities for local communities.
Murtala Bado, the village head of Garbadu, says community members now better understand the importance of protecting trees and restoring the environment. Residents monitor the project sites and discourage tree cutting in restored areas.
Mr. Bado says, “This project cannot work if there are no people to take care of it. And for people to actually show up and take interest means that it is going to be sustainable in the long term.”
International organizations and development partners have invested heavily in the initiative over the years. Funding has supported land restoration activities and helped communities strengthen food and water security. Experts say the project has the potential to become one of the world’s largest climate resilience initiatives if implementation continues to expand.
But challenges remain. Armed conflict and insecurity in parts of the Sahel continue to slow restoration work in some areas. Funding gaps and delays in distributing resources have also limited progress. In some communities, insecurity has forced restoration sites to be abandoned.
Despite these difficulties, local residents in Garbadu continue caring for the trees they planted. Farmers say they are already seeing improvements in soil moisture and reduced erosion around their fields.
For communities living on the front lines of desertification, restoring the land is not only about protecting the environment. It is also about protecting livelihoods, food supplies, and the future of their communities.
Photo: Jabiru Muhammed stands beside a tree planted as part of the Great Green Wall project in his village in Jigawa State. Credit: Promise Eze/IPS
This story is based on an article written by Promise Eze for IPS, titled “Ambitious Great Green Wall Shows Slow, Steady Progress in Strengthening Landscapes, Improving Livelihoods.” To read the full story, go to: https://www.ipsnews.net/2026/05/ambitious-great-green-wall-shows-slow-steady-progress-in-strengthening-landscapes-improving-livelihoods/