Economic efficiency and targeting of the African Great Green Wall

Land degradation in the Sahel threatens livelihoods and food security. The Great Green Wall programme is a colossal initiative to restore 100 million hectares of degraded ecosystems across 11 countries region, which started 2007 also promote sustainable development climate change mitigation. We evaluated economic costs benefits future land restoration projects under this programme. applied different scenarios that account for both market-priced non-market from restored consider heterogeneity local decision-making contexts terms investment planning horizons, discount rates, time needed start yielding their full. results show every US dollar invested into yields on average US$1.2 base scenario, ranging US$1.1 US$4.4 scenarios. At most, ten years are activities break even social perspective, accounting ecosystem benefits. To fund all proposed activities, an US$44 billion scenario (US$18–70 scenarios). Violent conflicts estimated reduce accessibility these 27.9 14.1 hectares. study highlights locations where economically attractive ecologically sustainable, after lower survival rates planted trees grasses, persistence drivers growing number violent hindering Sahel. This information can help improve targeting region. A cost–benefit analysis African shows that, range assumptions, makes sense at regional level, despite differences biomes.