Exploring the possibilities of cities taking the Great Green Wall initiative to new heights

This interactive session will introduce the phenomenon known as The Great Green Wall or Great Green Wall of the Sahara and the Sahel and investigate and explore the crucial role that cities can potentially play. Cities, being at the forefront of development and modern life as we know it could be the link needed to elevate the GGW initiative. This session will highlight the benefits of having cities and their stakeholders as key enablers to the success of the GGW initiative, in addition to why they need to be considered important connecters in the initiative’s long-term success.

The kickstart of the Decade of Action provides an ideal opportunity to link and merge forces across boundaries towards collaborative action. The GGW objectives stretch beyond just the planting of trees, as it is also envisaged that the holistic social change will emerge seeing an increase in food security, reduced poverty and resilience to climate change are essential co-benefits. Linked to this is the realisation and drive towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at the local level. The high-level objectives of the GGW initiative encapsulate those of the SDGs, highlighting the importance of the continued need for biodiversity and nature for a sustainable urban future.

The GGW as a mosaic of green and productive landscapes also draws direct ties to the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration toward preventing, halting and reversing the degradation of ecosystems worldwide. Ecosystems support all life on Earth. The healthier our ecosystems are, the healthier the planet – and its people.

Cette session interactive présentera le phénomène connu sous le nom de Grande Muraille Verte ou Grande Muraille Verte du Sahara et du Sahel et examinera et explorera le rôle crucial que les villes peuvent potentiellement jouer. Les villes, étant à l’avant-garde du développement et de la vie moderne nous savons que cela pourrait être le lien nécessaire pour rehausser l’initiative GGW. Cette session mettra en évidence les avantages d’avoir les villes et leurs parties prenantes en tant que catalyseurs clés du succès de l’initiative GGW, en plus des raisons pour lesquelles ils doivent être considérés comme des succès à long terme des initiatives.

Le coup d’envoi de la Décennie d’action offre une occasion idéale de lier et de fusionner des forces au-delà des frontières en vue d’une action collaborative. Les objectifs de la GGW vont au-delà de la plantation d’arbres, car il est également envisagé que le changement social holistique émergera, car l’augmentation de la sécurité alimentaire, la réduction de la pauvreté et la résilience au changement climatique sont des co-avantages essentiels. Lié à cela est la réalisation et la conduite vers la mise en œuvre des objectifs de développement durable au niveau local. Les objectifs de haut niveau de l’initiative GGW englobent ceux des ODD, soulignant l’importance du besoin continu de biodiversité et de nature pour un avenir urbain durable.

Le GGW en tant que mosaïque de paysages verts et productifs établit également des liens directs avec la Décennie pour la restauration des écosystèmes pour prévenir, arrêter et inverser la dégradation des écosystèmes dans le monde. Les écosystèmes soutiennent toute vie sur Terre. Plus nos écosystèmes sont sains, plus la planète et ses habitants sont en bonne santé.

Host: ICLEI Africa

Cape Town, South Africa

Session Summary

Ingrid Coetzee opens by introducing herself as the facilitator of this dialogue session. She welcomes the attendees and introduces the session title with the question “Africa’s Great Green Wall: Can cities take it to new heights?” Ingrid introduces the title of the session by saying that this dialogue session will focus on something that is unique but also very innovative on our continent and that is the Great Green Wall which is also referred to as – growing a world wonder.

This session hoped to raise awareness of the Great Green Wall but also to show that cities can be urban champions. This is a symbol of hope on the African continent when we deal with all the challenges that we face. Madame Fatimetou Abdel Malick is the first speaker and gives a statement about a group led by women against desertification. She gives an inspiring story of how the country came together, local and regional governments. Dr. Birguy Lamizana, president of the Nouakchott Region in Mauritania, is the second speaker and asks the attendees: “Which roles cities can play to help?” She emphasizes “The success of the Great Green Wall must be based on the youth, because they are the future, and on women, because they are the guardians of the land.” Dr. Moctar Sacande gives the next presentation about the action against desertification, how they tackled the issue, how big the issue is, how much work is needed, and who should benefit from it. He ends his presentation by saying “You have to contribute, women have to contribute, cities have to contribute, we are all in it to win it.”

The session ended with questions and answers and how to get involved with the Great Green Wall. And the speakers leave the attendees with one-sentence reflections like Ingrid said: “The Great Green Wall is also seen as the wall of hope.”