The Great Green Wall, a revegetated corridor extending from Senegal in the west to Djibouti in the east, might have the potential to combat terrorism in the Sahel region of Africa.

An article on Unity outlines how desertification in Africa’s Sahel region is causing extreme poverty, leading to the recruitment of some desperate people to terrorism.

Poor land management, such as overgrazing and deforestation, has largely caused the desertification, and according to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) 850 million people worldwide are affected by desertification.

The Great Green Wall was initially envisaged as a 15km wide wall of trees extending for over 7,000km across the continent. Now it is more about plating a range of vegetation, including agroforestry systems that can help sustain the lives of those living along it.

So far, almost 12 million trees have been planted in Senegal alone, most of which are indigenous Acacias that can survive in the harsh conditions and provide income to local communities through the sale of gum arabic. The gum is extracted from the bark and used as an additive in anything from pharmaceuticals to fizzy drinks.

As well as providing income, trees fertilize the soil and provide shade, which means the ground loses less water and crops can be grown.

The question remains whether these measures will be enough, especially amid further challenges associated with climate change, to provide jobs and combat poverty that will counter terrorism.

Read the full story: 'Green wall' to target Sahel terrorism