Algeria has initiated a significant project this year to rehabilitate the Green Dam, a major environmental endeavor first started in the early 1970s.
The government-led initiative aims to plant an additional one million hectares of trees across 13 Algerian provinces.
This massive afforestation effort is seen as crucial in preventing the Sahara Desert’s sands, particularly from the Grand Erg, from encroaching beyond the Atlas Mountains and reaching the Mediterranean Sea.
In the province of M’Sila, located less than 300 kilometers from the Algerian capital, tree planting activities are progressing rapidly.
This province, almost a gateway to the desert and a transition zone between the Tell Atlas and the Saharan Atlas, plays a pivotal role in the project and is prioritized for its strategic importance.
Recent official statistics indicate that approximately 10% of Algeria’s land area is threatened by desertification.
With the country experiencing significant climatic changes in recent years, including water scarcity, torrential rains, major forest fires, and the loss of thousands of hectares of vegetation, the decision to revive the Green Dam project with a focus on diverse, climate-resilient tree species has been welcomed.
These trees are also chosen to provide resources for local communities.
Farmers, in conversations with Sky News Arabia, have praised this initiative for protecting farmlands and crops, urging authorities to provide artesian wells to ensure the survival of these trees.
The rehabilitation of the Green Dam, initially launched in the 1970s, will adopt a new approach divided into three areas: forests, pastures, and agricultural lands.
This time, the project will avoid the previous practice of planting only one tree species, Aleppo pine, which dominated earlier efforts.
This eight-year project aims to reverse the trend of decreasing green spaces in the Green Dam region, where green areas have reduced by about 50% over the past four decades due to climatic changes.
This decline has resulted in the country’s forest area shrinking from 5 million hectares to around 3 million, according to experts.
The Green Dam project represents a crucial step in Algeria’s fight against desertification and climate change, with its comprehensive and strategic approach signaling a renewed commitment to environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation.
