Eleven countries in Africa are erecting a veritable wall of trees that stretches from east to west and reaches 8, 000 kilometers long and 15 kilometers wide. The intention of the huge green belt is to lessen the impacts of climate change, mitigate the process of expanding the Sahara desert and, in short, generate income for the inhabitants of one of the poorest regions of the globe.

So far, Senegal is the most committed nation in the project: over 11 million seedlings have been planted there. The country has been experiencing abrupt climate change since the beginning of the century, with unprecedented sandstorms, decreasing rainfall and advancing the Sahara desert over food crops.

The "Great Wall of Trees" in yellow extends from Senegal to Djibouti

The leaders of the countries of this region, known as Sahel, see tree planting as a way to prevent the desertification process from advancing. Earlier, the wind dug and eroded the ground, diminishing the already tiny reserves of water. Tree roots now retain the natural element in the soil, making dry wells refill.

The large green belt began in 2007 and has an estimated cost of $ 8 billion - about $ 25 billion, at the current price. Rather than erecting a large tree barrier around one of the largest deserts on Earth, the project benefits sub-Saharan Africa's population with job creation and the ability to grow a variety of food crops.