The inspiration for Africa's "Great Green Wall" project, to plant trees across the continent to hold back the Sahara Desert, came partly from Burkina Faso. While the project faces challenges and criticism, it still has champions who are teaching the next generation the importance of planting trees. Henry Wilkins reports from Burkina Faso.

In the arid savannah of Burkina Faso’s countryside, for decades local people have understood the importance of planting trees to protect their livelihoods and hold back the encroaching desert.

Few more so than El Hadji Salifou Ouedraogo, who has run a business planting and nurturing the famous baobab trees for more than forty years.

El Hadji Salifou Ouedraogo, Baobab Entrepreneur:

“At the beginning it was mangoes that I produced but I realized very quickly that many people already did that. So, having a baobab at home and having noticed that people came to the house all the time to ask for the baobab leaves for food, I thought to myself why not produce it in large numbers? It would help people a lot.”

The baobab trees’ fruit, leaves and bark are used by some Burkinabe people as an important food source and for medicinal purposes.

But Thomas Sankara, the country’s president from 1983-1987 and a national hero for many in Burkina Faso, envisioned planting the baobab and all kinds of trees across the continent.

He once said, “Step by step, tree by tree, we will create this great park of 10 million trees.”

Some say Sankara was the inspiration for the U.N. and World Bank funded Great Green Wall – a projected 8,000 kilometer-long band of trees stretching across the southern edge of the Sahara desert from the east of Africa to the west.

Backers claim it will also help fight the effects of climate change, drought, famine, conflict and migration.

But critics say after 15 years, the project is only 4 percent complete with just 10 years left before its completion deadline.

Giorgio Vacchiano, University of Milan Associate Professor:

“I can see three different kinds of problems. One, from the social point of view, obviously from the implementation point of view and then the ecological consequences and feasibility. The territory that is going to be planted with trees is currently a conflict area, either with traditional military conflicts or with terrorism.”

But nonprofit groups say the project is making gains and uniting communities.

Rémi Hemeryck, SOS Sahel Executive Director:

“So, we have been working on the ground, mostly with rural communities, rehabilitating land and forest and also empowering local communities to get involved into the economic system, so we really believe that the Great Green Wall is one of the solutions for the Sahel region.”

Ouedraogo's son, who is taking on the family business, believes tree planting is essential for the future too.

Amadou Ouédraogo, Baobab Entrepreneur:

“I accompany [my father] on all possible terrains and he tells me how to take care of the trees and particularly the baobabs, which are a symbol of Africa.”

He also said it’s important to save nature because - in his words - “saving nature is saving the life of man.”

Originally published at - [ Ссылка ]

» Subscribe to VOA News: [ Ссылка ]
» Watch more VOA News video: [ Ссылка ]

Voice of America (VOA) is the largest U.S. international broadcaster, providing news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of 236.8 million people. VOA produces content for digital, television, and radio platforms. It is easily accessed via your mobile phone and on social media. It is also distributed by satellite, cable, FM and MW, and is carried on a network of approximately 3,000 affiliate stations.

Since its creation in 1942, Voice of America has been committed to providing comprehensive coverage of the news and telling audiences the truth. Through World War II, the Cold War, the fight against global terrorism, and the struggle for freedom around the globe today, VOA exemplifies the principles of a free press.

Connect with VOA News:

» VISIT OUR WEBSITE: [ Ссылка ]
» LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE: [ Ссылка ]
» FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: [ Ссылка ]
» FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: [ Ссылка ]

свернуть