Tabi Joda interview at COP27 on Great Green Wall

Growing the Great Green Wall - Tabi Joda

One Billion Trees for Africa snapshot of land restoration efforts

Agroforestry practices work best for land and ecosystems restoration

Land restoration process

Restored biodiversity - a Garden of Eden at the edge of the desert

Tabi-Joda--Saplings.jpg

Policy additionality. Project implementation goes beyond its host country's climate objectives.

Level 5 additionality

Technology, institutional, common practice additionality. The project implements climate actions that are subject to barriers to implementation or accelerates deployment of technology or activities.

Level 3 additionality

ISO 14064-2 GHG emissions additionality. GHG emission mitigations are additional to the baseline scenario.

Level 1 additionality

Statutory additionality. The project implements actions that go beyond statutory requirements.

Level 2a additionality

Financial additionality. Carbon credit revenues are the major or only source of revenues

Level 4b additionality

Africa

The International Carbon Registry operates an international greenhouse gas program for the registration of climate projects and issuance of high-integrity carbon credits.

International Carbon Registry

Greenhouse gases — Part 2: Specification with guidance at the project level for quantification, monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emission reductions or removal enhancements

Additionality might be challenged because of existing government commitments and targets to plant the Great Green Wall. However, the project has been running since 2007 and progress has been slow and incremental due to lack of cohesive organisational strategies and funds reaching grassroots level.  Carbon credit financing can create multiplier effects by leveraging more funds, attracting further investments, and enhancing the scale and impact of restoration efforts. These multiplier effects go beyond what government commitments alone could achieve. The introduction of private sector financing and carbon credits could provide the much-needed catalyst to accelerate progress towards the Great Green Wall targets. The acceleration is a key component of additionality, as it represents a significant change in the pace and scale of implementation.

The Great Green Wall project exemplifies the power of partnerships in achieving the SDGs. By collaborating with local communities, governments, and international organizations, the initiative leverages collective efforts to drive environmental restoration and sustainable development.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The Great Green Wall project has a substantial impact on alleviating poverty. This agroforestry initiative improves land health, leading to a rise in the water table and a revitalization of biodiversity, which collectively ensures food security. High-impact trees, notably Shea and Moringa, offer marketable products, creating a sustainable source of income and encouraging local economic growth. New income avenues are also introduced, such as the harvesting of honey from introduced beehives, further enhancing the community's financial stability. Direct job opportunities are created through active land restoration work, with a significant spotlight on empowering women economically. One such example is the innovative use of Silk Cotton trees, where women produce and sell plastic-free grow bags, combining environmental stewardship with economic upliftment. This multi-faceted approach reinforces the project's substantial contribution to poverty reduction.

SDG 1: End poverty

The Great Green Wall project employs a unique agroforestry approach to ensure environmental restoration while providing sustenance and economic benefits to local communities. Agroforestry integrates the planting of trees and the cultivation of crops and fruit-bearing trees, enhancing biodiversity and reinforcing ecosystem resilience. This approach is fundamental in enhancing food security and combating hunger. Fruit-bearing trees, such as Mango and Plantain, with substantial Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) impact ratings, contribute directly to the community's food sources. Concurrently, tree species like the African Locust Bean and Cacao, which have slightly lower SDG impact ratings, provide significant contributions to diversifying the food chain. By fostering improvements in the water table and biodiversity, the project supports sustainable agricultural practices, reducing the communities' vulnerability to food shortages. Therefore, the integration of forestry and agriculture within the agroforestry model plays a pivotal role in combating hunger, and the SDG impact ratings are a testament to the valuable contribution of each species to this goal.

SDG 2: No Poverty

The Great Green Wall project contributes significantly to the health and well-being of local communities, beyond just immediate nutritional benefits. Central to this is the Moringa tree, with a high Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) impact rating, celebrated for its immense nutritional value, supplying essential vitamins and minerals that underpin a healthy diet. The Neem tree, despite having a slightly lower SDG impact rating, offers medicinal properties that provide natural remedies for numerous ailments. Additionally, the enhanced quality of life resulting from improved food security, economic stability, and biodiversity, fostered by the project's agroforestry model, positively influences overall health and well-being. Thus, within the broader context of the project, these trees not only augment the local environment's health but also significantly improve the communities' health and well-being, showcasing the Great Green Wall project's comprehensive health benefits.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The Great Green Wall project, while primarily focused on environmental restoration, also contributes to quality education. The project provides local communities with practical knowledge and skills regarding sustainable land management practices and biodiversity conservation. In doing so, the project not only augments academic learning but also equips individuals with lifelong skills essential for their continued interaction with the environment. Economic stability and growth brought about by high-impact trees like Shea and Moringa could potentially increase the investment in local education. Furthermore, through the Great Green Wall project, communities acquire knowledge and skills related to sustainable land management and agroforestry, enriching their educational experience.

SDG 4: Quality Education

The Great Green Wall project promotes gender equality by creating economic opportunities and empowerment for women. It provides women with income-generating activities, such as the production of plastic-free grow bags from Silk Cotton trees, which bolster their economic independence. This proactive engagement of women fosters social inclusion and equality, contributing significantly to this SDG.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The project contributes significantly to clean water availability and sanitation by raising the water table through land restoration. Wells are constructed with care, ensuring their usability and acceptance even by developed world standards. The increased water availability not only improves the immediate living conditions but also supports sustainable agricultural practices in the region.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Certain trees in the Great Green Wall project, like the Croton tree, produce oilseeds that can be converted into biodiesel, contributing to the production of affordable and clean energy. This practice reduces dependency on non-renewable energy sources, moving communities towards sustainable energy solutions.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

The project stimulates economic growth by creating direct employment opportunities in land restoration and indirectly through the establishment of new businesses like honey harvesting and selling tree products. It also aids in addressing the migrant crisis in Europe by providing economic stability in the region, which could reduce the dangerous migration journeys undertaken in search of better living conditions.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The Great Green Wall project is a hotbed of innovation and cutting-edge technology in sustainable land management practices. By incorporating a variety of trees, such as Moringa for nutritional purposes, Croton for biofuel production, and Shea for craftwork and cosmetics, the project nurtures green industries that fuel local economic growth. The project also utilizes advanced agroforestry systems to optimally manage these tree species, supporting the development of sustainable infrastructure like solarised wells. Through this constant innovation and commitment to sustainability, the project helps secure investor confidence, ensuring long-term viability and beneficial impact on local communities.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

By fostering economic stability and creating job opportunities, the project contributes to reducing inequalities within and among communities. It addresses the root causes of economic migration, providing viable alternatives that can improve living standards and decrease socioeconomic disparities.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The project promotes the development of sustainable communities through its agroforestry model. By discouraging practices like unnecessary tree felling and encouraging sustainable practices like selling fruit and honey, the initiative builds resilient communities that coexist harmoniously with their environment.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The project encourages responsible consumption and production through sustainable land management practices and the creation of eco-friendly products like honey and craft items. It advocates for a balance between human needs and the environment, promoting sustainable use of resources.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

The Great Green Wall project plays a pivotal role in climate action by restoring degraded lands, enhancing biodiversity, and sequestering carbon. The trees planted not only restore the ecological balance but also combat climate change by reducing the carbon footprint of the region.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The project significantly enhances terrestrial biodiversity through the planting of diverse tree species. It actively fights land degradation and desertification, restoring habitats, and providing a sanctuary for diverse flora and fauna.

SDG 15: Life on Land

The Great Green Wall project plays a significant role in fostering peace and justice by combating resource scarcity and economic instability, two major roots of conflict. By promoting economic stability, the project directly addresses these causes of unrest. For instance, trees with high SDG impact ratings like the Shea Tree and Moringa provide substantial economic resources through their varied uses, reducing resource insecurity. By creating opportunities for income and empowering communities, particularly through job creation and entrepreneurship, the project ensures more peaceful and just societies. The stable environment fostered by this initiative is integral to strengthening institutions and maintaining peace.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Afforestation and reforestation

GUD Malta collaborates with Sahel communities in the Great Green Wall, utilizing innovative agroforestry for sustainable land restoration, biodiversity enhancement, and long-term economic benefits. With a focus on impact over carbon, we're committed to generating high-conviction carbon credits. Our approach employs cutting-edge, proprietary MRV systems for precise monitoring, ensuring granular oversight and detailed impact measurement.

Sequestration, removal and storage of carbondioxide (CO2) from the earth´s atmosphere.

GUD One Billion Trees for Africa - Cameroon

GUD One Billion Trees for Africa - Cameroon

Under development

Sequestration / Removal

Afforestation and reforestation

ISO 14064-2

Estimated Credits

Sustainable development goals

Location

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