A Modern Eighth Wonder of the World?

March 9, 2021
Energy, Inventions
by opd5018

Upon hearing the phrase “the Seven Wonders of the World”, what places do you think of?

Do you think of the Great Pyramid of Giza from the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? Do you think of one of the New7Wonders, such as the Great Wall of China?

Currently, there are eight different lists each with seven different wonders of the world. They even break the lists down by wonder type: natural, engineering/architectural, underwater, and more.

Back in 2006, USA Today created the list of the seven wonders of the natural world. While all of these wonders were formed naturally, some have proposed including the Great Green Wall as an eighth wonder.

Yet, how did this hopeful world-wonder come to be?

The Great Green Wall

In the 1970s, a fertile region of Africa known as Sahel began to degrade. This meant the loss of invaluable vegetation, which acted as a carbon sink, food for the surrounding communities, and cost farmers their jobs.

The idea for the Great Green Wall project was first proposed in the 1980s but began development in 2007 under the African Union. When the project first started, 11 African countries were participating, but now over 20 countries have signed on.

The purpose of this project is to create jobs across the continent, offset the effects of climate change, replant lost vegetation, and combat poverty and hunger.

This ambitious undertaking plans on planting 8,000 km, approximately 4907 miles, of uninterupted vegation across the entire width of the continent. The project, once completed, will reach from Senegal, on the West coast, to Djibouti, in the East.

The project, now on its fourteenth year, has completed over 15% of the target 8,000 km- almost 1,200 km! According to the project coordinators, “the Great Green Wall will be the largest living structure on the planet, 3 times the size of the Great Barrier Reef.”

Looking to 2030: Results and Goals

Goals

When looking at the next ten years, the project, in partnering with the African Union, plans on creating 10 million jobs. With the addition of the next decade’s planting process, the project aims to also sequester over 250 million tonnes of carbon, capturing atmospheric carbon contributing to climate change.

Looking at these goals, which will be the result of the planting of about another 1,200 km, creates hope for what the project, once completed, will contribute not only to Africa but also the world.

Results

The results of the proect’s effectiveness already shine a promising light for the future to come. According to the Great Green Wall project,

12 million “drought resistent trees” have been planted in Senegal
In Niger, not only has 5 million hectares of land been restored, but this new land produces “500,000 tonnes of grain per year, enough to feed 2.5 million people.”
Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso have all experienced the restoration of land, ranging from 3 to 15 million hectares.

All of these results are incredibly promising and are making a huge impact on the surrouding communities!

Another fantastic result is the project’s ability to be in accordance with 15 of the 17 goals outlined by the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. These goals, created in 2015, include gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, and partnership for the goals.

This is a fantastic glimpse at the ability countries have to cooperate for the greater good of society as well as the Earth. The project is story of inspiration, cooperation, and hardwork that demonstrates just how quickly our world is changing, but also that we have the ability to save it.

What You Can Do

The most important thing that you can do is to do a bit of research! Whether it is on the Great Green Wall itself, or on the conditions plaguing African countries as a result of climate change.

The Great Green Wall project has even released a film in 2019 that delves into the innerworkings of the project while also giving the viewers a first-hand glimpse at the results. The Great Green Wall has also created a Virtual Reality exploration that you can check out on their website.

Finally, spread the word about the Great Green Wall! You can even sign the Great Green Pledge if you choose to do so.

Remember this amazing example of human cooperation as a symbol that we still have time to turn climate change around, but we must act soon.