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Project title

Future Proofing Senegal's Great Green Wall

Primary Funding Agency

Irish Research Council

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

Department of Foreign Affairs

Lead Organisation

Maynooth University (NUIM)

Lead Applicant

n/a

Project Abstract

Across the Sahel region in Africa, climate change has exacerbated desertification and heightened food, water, and energy insecurity, placing major barriers to development in a region already experiencing widespread poverty. The Great Green Wall (GGW) is one of the world�s largest and most ambitious land restoration initiatives that spans 8,000 km across the Sahel. The GGW is a broad initiative that encompasses a diverse set of sustainable land management approaches (including reforestation) that seek to restore landscapes and improve livelihoods across the region. However, a recent landmark report revealed that only 4% of the targeted restoration area has been achieved. The report identified many challenges to achieving the GGW ambitions, including insufficient technical knowledge on reforestation and an absence of efficient monitoring programs. In Senegal, largescale reforestation activities are ongoing and >18 million trees have been planted. Yet, this represents less than 10% of the targeted restoration area, and replanting programmes have been beset with high tree mortality rates and a lack of rigorous monitoring data. Our project aims to work together with Senegal�s National Forestry Research Center to address these challenges and provide a basis for future proofing the GGW in Senegal and across the Sahel. The project will - 1) use state-of-the-art plant environmental growth chamber experiments to identify tree species that are most resilient to Senegal�s future climate conditions, 2) use participatory approaches to engage with local communities and build capacity for monitoring GGW reforestation and ecosystem service delivery in Senegal, and 3) improve governance and policy frameworks that support GGW interventions. In line with priorities set out in Ireland�s international development policy, this project will strengthen Ireland�s development role in the Sahel and engage with the challenges facing communities in French-speaking West Africa.

Grant Approved

�295,985.17

Research Hub

n/a

Research Theme

Air Science

Start Date

01/09/2022

Initial Projected Completion Date

01/09/2025