Africa Union Reaffirms Commitment to Great Green Wall Initiative
Experts and officials gathered in Addis Ababa on 13 May 2025 to reaffirm the importance of collaboration in implementing the African Union’s Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI). Aimed at restoring degraded land across the Sahel and beyond, the initiative was launched in 2007 to combat desertification and address climate challenges impacting food security, livelihoods, and biodiversity. At the meeting, Harsen Nyambe Harsen, Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy at the African Union Commission, stressed that a fragmented approach would undermine efforts to build climate-resilient landscapes.
During the discussions, Professor Labode Popoola of the African Forest Forum highlighted the role of forest management and community empowerment in ensuring long-term environmental restoration. Both officials called for increased political will, resource mobilisation, and knowledge exchange across African nations. Described as more than a reforestation project, the Great Green Wall is framed as a critical strategy for creating food security, green jobs, and sustainable development opportunities across Africa’s drylands.
Source: ENA
