Algeria has initiated a large-scale environmental program to combat desertification, focusing on reforestation and sustainable water management in the Sahara. The project, announced in early 2026, aims to restore 10 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Key components include planting drought-resistant trees like acacia and olive, and constructing new water retention basins. The initiative is part of the national 'Green Dam' project, which originally started in the 1970s but has been revived with modern techniques and international funding from the UN's Green Climate Fund.
Local communities are being trained in sustainable agriculture and eco-tourism to ensure long-term success. Early results show a 15% increase in vegetation cover in pilot zones in the provinces of Laghouat and El Oued since 2024.
