Africa is a wonderful continent, but always somehow humiliated. From time immemorial. It's truly infuriating to think that the cradle of our species is in such serious danger. Beneath the surface of savannahs, forests and deserts lies an alarming reality: over 700 million hectares of land, 23% of the total, are already degraded. And every year another 3 million hectares are added to this sad balance.
The causes are multiple and interconnected: from climate change to extractive activities, from intensive agriculture to invasive species. The effects, however, are unambiguous: loss of biodiversity, reduction in productivity, increase in poverty and food insecurity. Faced with this epochal challenge, the most promising solution has a precise name: ecological restoration. That is, the art of helping nature heal itself.
The “big five” of environmental degradation
To understand the scope of the problem, we must start from its roots, which start from soil degradation. According to experts, there are five big factors global impacts that erode soil health, the so-called “big five” of environmental degradation. The first is represented by biological invasions, or the uncontrolled spread of plant and animal species outside their original range. These alien species, often without natural predators, reproduce at dizzying rates, taking space and resources away from native ones and altering the balance of ecosystems.
The second one factor are the extreme events linked to climate change, such as prolonged droughts and devastating fires. These disasters, which are increasingly frequent and intense, put the resilience of the land to the test, making it more vulnerable to erosion and desertification. Add to that le extractive activities like mines and drilling, which leave behind lunar landscapes and poisoned soil, and deforestation, which destroys valuable habitats and compromises the soil's ability to retain water and nutrients.
Ultimo , but no less important, is pollution from toxic substances such as sulfur compounds or chemical fertilizers, which alter the composition of the soil and favor eutrophication, i.e. the abnormal proliferation of algae and other aquatic plants to the detriment of biodiversity.
In Africa everything is even more serious
If these are the main causes of land degradation at a global level, in Africa the situation is aggravated by a series of specific factors. First, the strong dependence of local populations on natural resources for daily survival, from the use of wood as fuel to agricultural practices based on deforestation and intensive monocultures. Added to this are often weak governance, widespread insecurity over land ownership rights, endemic poverty and population growth that increases pressure on ecosystems.
An explosive mix that is gradually eroding the continent's natural capital, putting not only biodiversity at risk, but also the development prospects and well-being of millions of people. Suffice it to say that agriculture, which depends to a large extent on the health of the soil, still employs over 60% of the African workforce and represents 25% of the continental GDP. Not to mention the inestimable value of ecosystem services such as climate regulation, water purification or crop pollination.
Ecological restoration as a solution
Faced with this challenge, the scientific community and international institutions are increasingly in agreement in indicating ecological restoration as one of the most promising solutions. It is a multidisciplinary approach that aims to repair degraded ecosystems, restoring their original structure, functions and diversity. A complex and delicate process, which requires a profound knowledge of ecological dynamics and careful evaluation of the specificities of each context.
In concrete terms, ecological restoration can take different forms depending on the situations. We go from manual removal or mechanics of invasive species, like the Australian acacia trees that infest over 500.000 hectares of South Africa, to active reforestation with native species, through the renaturalization of waterways or the creation of ecological corridors to encourage the mobility of wildlife. Interventions which, if applied on a large scale, can trigger a virtuous circle of regeneration and resilience.
Successes and challenges of ecological restoration in Africa
Furthermore, there is no shortage of successful examples of ecological restoration in Africa. From the reforestation of Great Green Wall of the Sahel, which is helping to slow down the advance of the desert, to restore the mangroves along the coasts of Kenya and Mozambique, passing through the recovery of degraded pastures in Ethiopia or savannahs infested by alien species in South Africa. Projects that demonstrate how, with the right knowledge and resources, it is possible to reverse the course of degradation and restore vitality and productivity to entire territories.
It's not a walk in the park. Ecological restoration requires significant investments in research, training, infrastructure and monitoring. It requires far-sighted and integrated policies that combine conservation with sustainable development and the involvement of local communities. It requires a cultural paradigm shift, which recognizes the intrinsic value and ecosystem services provided by nature. But above all, it requires the awareness that time is running out and that every hectare of land lost is a wound to the future of the continent.
The call from the experts: #GenerationRestoration
It is in this spirit that Mlungele Nsikani, land restoration expert and environmental scientist, launches a heartfelt appeal to all Africans and beyond: join the #GenerationRestoration movement, the generation of ecological restoration. An invitation to take an active part in the fight against soil degradation, starting from the intransigent defense of ecosystems that are still intact to arrive at the widespread recovery of those compromised.
Because, as Nsikani reminds us, only healthy and functional landscapes can guarantee food, water and energy at affordable prices, the pillars of economic development. Only a resilient nature can protect communities from climate disasters and ensure crucial services such as pollination or purification of air and water. Only an environment rich in biodiversity can offer job opportunities, well-being and social stability to present and future generations.
Africa has the knowledge, energy and potential to become a world leader in ecological restoration. But for this to happen, everyone's commitment is needed: governments, businesses, researchers, citizens. We need to move from words to facts, from slogans to concrete projects. We need to get involved personally, each in our own small way, to give back to the earth what we have taken from it. So that Africa, wounded but not defeated, can flourish again. Only in this way will the dream of a green, prosperous continent once again in harmony with nature become reality. Because, as the #GenerationRestoration motto says, "we inherited the land from our ancestors, but we borrowed it from future generations". And we must return it to them, healthier and more vital than ever.
