Inside Africa's Food Forest Mega-Project

[@amillison]

To see these sites for yourself in Google Maps, click the links in the description. If you view those sites in Google Earth, then you can click the "Historical Imagery" button and see what they looked like before the water harvesting and tree planting work. ERROR CORRECTION: 300,000 Hectares is actually 1,158 square miles. When I did the conversion I confused hectares with acres. 300,000 acres is about 500 square miles. Sorry!!! The results are even better than what I said. ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: 1) Why don't they use excavators and other heavy machinery instead of toiling by hand? I've realized that it is very difficult for someone from an Industrialized country to fathom what it's like to be in a place with as little development as Niger. Niger does not have the infrasturcture in these remote rural areas to transport, house, or repair heavy equipment or the operators and mechanics in these locations. The roads can be very poor, and many areas are impassable during rains. Less than 8% of the rural areas have electricity. To support a fleet of heavy equipment pieces here, you would need a tremendous investment in the rural infrastructure of the country just to move and repair equipment. The populations are subsistence farmers. The villages are mud huts. The main way to get around are donkey carts. You can't just roll in the excavator into this situation without massive infrastructure development to support them. Also...the people are empowered by this work. They earn money from the work, and they take ownership over the projects because of this. The fact that it is not done for them gives them a much greater stake in the management and continuation of these systems.

[@4thdimensionalexplorer]

Nothing but respect for any people who get their hands dirty with good work. A love for our planet is a beautiful thing.

[@b_uppy]

And it IS doable by hand, and they did it. Beautiful job.

[@benedictschleyer4261]

Donate link ? Direct for that specific project

[@b_uppy]

​@@benedictschleyer4261 It is in the first one in the drop-down, I believe.

[@jpdj2715]

Very interesting, thanks. By the way, the word sahara means desert.

[@user-cs5qf3vt1t]

I would love to do this in Somalia. My mother planted 1,000 trees in Somalia with only her money. She sadly passed away unexpectedly last year and I wish to continue her legacy and plant more trees and fight global warming in Somalia.

[@mihaelapopescu4213]

Gratitude to her and to the other tree planters in Africa and worldwide, true heroes of humanity, but, please, plant because is natural to do it, caring for damaged nature and for people, not because of this hoax called global warming, nothing but artificial weather modification ❤

[@beerenmusli8220]

Perhaps you can get into contact with ecological regeneration groups like the ones that Ecosia or the UN WFP work together with?

[@ryan160]

@@mihaelapopescu4213you are insane by the way.

[@mathiasfriman8927]

Your mother sounds like a real role model. Start a plant nursery, so you can plant seeds and grow the seedlings yourself before planting them. That way, the trees get cheaper for you. Grow them individually in bags made of cloth. Learn how to make compost to fertilize your plants naturally. They will grow better with good nutrients. Capture rainwater (for example from roof runoff during rains) in a big tank to have a steady water supply for the seedlings. Bring the seedlings up under a semitransparent shade mesh net so they have some sun but also not scorching heat from direct sunlight. Think of it as an artificial canopy. There are examples on KZbin. Good luck with your endeavour!

[@carlvanmeerbeek7327]

Have you heard of Life Terra? They also have tree planting programs.

[@-moumou-]

“Though the problems of the world are increasingly complex, the solutions remain embarrassingly simple.” - Bill Mollison

[@wolfvonderr4487]

Lovely. It might be because our problems tend to be simple, we just complicate them and ourselves.

[@Hasan-e3u2v]

It will be possible only when you change your mindset.

[@magic-eric7328]

The world has not taken more action of climate change because the majority of people in the world lack the ability to think logically and solve problems.

[@b_uppy]

And surprisingly cheap...

[@hemas99-n9o]

So true!

[@IsisEgito]

This project is incredible. Seeing these videos fill me up with joy and hope.

[@stevenlake5278]

I could be wrong. But I am sure the Chinese are telling them how to do it

[@freedomsong9747]

@@stevenlake5278and imagine the French have been their for hundreds of years only mining uranium in the same soil instead of helping the natives fend for themselves off the land . It only took the Chinese a couple of years to help alleviate the problem in the Sahel

[@notashroom]

I love seeing this. Not only does restoring the fertility of the land have the direct effects of improving nutrition for the people and their livestock and recreating healthy ecosystem, but there are also the indirect effects of reducing migration and improving political stability. 💚🌳 When people have enough to eat and their children are healthy, there is a lot less motivation to try to take whatever the next people over have. Stability supports education, economic development, democratic governance, and cultural and artistic expression, and those create opportunities for tourism and intercultural exchange. It's dominoes of good things falling into place.

[@TheWhoat]

Beautifully put

[@ColtA13]

Well said. This is the sort of renewable culture we should be reinforcing worldwide

[@HoboGardenerBen]

Except that our scaling up has not been done sustainably. The food systems of the modern world are not secure because they destroy the soil and run off synthetic fertilizer made from dwindling fossil fuel resources. And we haven't been peaceful either. We make peace at home and war and destabilization everywhere else. The rich world only exists by stepping on the poor world. What you describe is a utopic fantasy version of civilization. Better than being super poor in a destroyed landscape for sure, but we helped make that happen. Mehacorps go in a mine these ppaces for resources, ofren intentionally destrabilizing the political system in the process because war and chaos makes it easy to suck a place dry. Our leaders know all this they take part. That is so we can chill out in cafes and imagine we live in an advanced society while the world steadily dies around us.

[@hotbit7327]

The Elephant in the Room is Niger's population 🎆explosion. 1950 - 2.5M 2025 ~ 30M 2060 ~ 100M Can there be wealth and stability shortly? Or will revitalised land be destroyed by overgrazing again? One way or another they will destroy local environments and wildlife.

[@boshenaw.929]

This is the beginning of the New World. People working together to solve the problems and benefit all. Love it!

[@JustGaming-un6ph]

That sounds like communism, sends fighter jet 😅😅

[@K.navery2U]

Sounds like a golden age, we are all ready for it ❤️

[@boshenaw.929]

@@JustGaming-un6ph I grew up in communism, many parts were quite good, actually. The thing that ruined it was, like everywhere else in the world, a certain group of people who thought that they were better than the rest and should dictate what people thought and how they lived. This is second time I live in communism now, although it has a different name now, for some reason...

[@tag180rotax]

I am convinced humans are just beavers that forgot they're beavers and need to be reminded from time to time

[@8Jory]

I would love to see one of your sandbox videos about the half moon structures and how to incorporate them in to different landscapes and different climates. Thank you as always for the great content.

[@kariannecrysler640]

Thank you Africa for trailblazing innovation! What an extraordinary achievement 💗

[@GIddyUpRetep]

Love seeing the examples from 1 year and 8 years. Good stuff, Andrew.

[@kylecb]

These are the kind of stories the world needs to see! Optimism and real solutions in the face of massive challenges. Thank you!!

[@alysoffoxdale]

This progress is very exciting and encouraging!

[@stevenlake5278]

UN takes credit for this and it's the chinese helping them to do it.

[@pinskiplantpower9409]

Wow, mind blowing. What could the world look like, if everybody were engaged to care for nature..

[@ettajfan5882]

I saw a lot of smiles! What a change for them and what their hard work produced!

[@c.i.demann3069]

Thank you so much, Andrew. Now, more than ever, I need positive news in my life.

[@janprzysiezniak7563]

Andrew, all your video reports are profoundly inspiring, hopeful. Thanks for your teaching and joy.

[@SoloJetMan]

needed this in light of current events - thanks Andrew

[@Wulfieman]

What current events are you talking about?

[@aarontaylor4787]

@@Wulfieman Take a wild guess. Orange man bad.

[@Wulfieman]

@@aarontaylor4787 What does orange man have to do with Nigerians creating forests in the Sahel to prevent the Sahara from expanding?

[@Akio-fy7ep]

@@Wulfieman Very little, which is the whole point. But global climate disruption from US industrial activity that will not now be limited will make orange-face responsible for more suffering.

[@poultryinmotion5721]

@Wulfieman Great question, how could the leader of one of the most powerful nations and the biggest polluter on the planet impact the climate of another part of the world? Obviously it only impacts the US.

[@NirvanaFan5000]

4 part series from andrew millison on the great green wall of africa! I freaking love it!

[@ZhangMaza]

Faith of Humanity is restored when I see this kind of video, nice job!

[@magsbayou]

I get very excited to see Africa healing and advancing. I hope they continue and keep away the greed. It's time we re-learn we take care of the earth and it takes care of ALL of us, not just some of us.

[@ongoingawakening4257]

Imagine the possibilities. May these practices overtake the world without opposition from the control grids.

[@gospelofchange]

Who can possibly stop us from picking up shovels and restoring the earth?

[@rjabbott4681]

I remember seeing your first videos on this a few years ago, it’s crazy how far the project has come!!!

[@amillison]

The first video just showed a very new project in Senegal. Niger is where the really vast and established projects are located.

[@not2tees]

This planet needs people, not top-down control types, but bottom up achievers to bring prosperity for all and not special extreme wealth for the few.

[@michaelsorensen7567]

Irony being that someone with special extreme wealth had to top down control the bottom up achievers in order to bring this prosperity.

[@not2tees]

@@michaelsorensen7567 Irony happens!

[@knoll9812]

This was top down getting bottom involved. Bottom up didn't work.

[@4thdimensionalexplorer]

A litteral grass roots movement I sapose haha

[@JeremyThomas_Environmentarian]

Thanks for sharing such an amazing story! Well do to you and all the 1000s involved and the millions who will benefit...

[@RedBear345]

Would be cool to catch you on one of these long form podcasts. This stuff is fascinating, and hopeful.

[@hhwippedcream]

Incredible work. Thanks so much for the excellent coverage of this important work.

[@coroner2141]

I remember seeing this when the project was just starting! Insane to see the progress!!

[@africaine4889]

Saw a lot of negative comments on his first video. People didn't trust this project and was saying nothing was actually goin on. I hope these people arr watching this now

[@NateLee-nc6tb]

Mr Millison, you are one of my favorite people on the planet.

[@justinskeans3342]

This is the way. Super impressive proof we don't need to bring millions upon millions of people to this country to help the world. Pretty simple to help people where they are. Love to see it.

[@teddyhansen9178]

Amazing......still hope....love it 🌴🌿

[@GGG-b2z8l]

Anyone else think that Bob Geldolf’s “Feed The World” in 1985, would love this knowledge? Instead of drilling holes to access water, this would have replenished the water table for years to come?

[@ianlancaster4897]

Outstanding. So encouraging to see positive projects like this, at real scale

[@philiptaylor7902]

This incredible transformation of degraded land in Africa needs to be more widely know. Great work Andrew.

[@Arandombrazilian-ld8rh]

Great video as aways

[@johnmcnulty4425]

At 60 years old, I now know that I need to find other places in the world to find some hope for people and our planet. I love how people have to work together for a common cause and look forward to the day when this part of the world becomes a net food exporter!😊❤

[@4thdimensionalexplorer]

There is hope in all places, though we aren't the loudest of voices. There are small but growing communities of people like you everywhere. Some work to set up community gardens, some work to help identify and remove harmful invasives. Please don't be discouraged by the waves of hate and fear. Im sure there are others with your thoughts near you and together you can plan or be part of something in even a small form. Little things can grow into massive changes, sometimes it just takes a little nurturing and bravery

[@yudiariwibowo9596]

Africa is the future of the earth...

[@oldauntzibby4395]

Isn't that fitting, because according to anthropology, Africa is also the beginning of the human species.

[@bandit2048]

This is so good to see - at last a project to do something positive rather than accept the situation. Thanks to all involved in this - it gives hope to all of us.

[@danbrooks2584]

This is some of the best work in the world going at this time. This is real progress. I am more impressed with this work that just about any I have seen. Good luck to all working on this project and I love what everyone has done.

[@stefanodadamo6809]

Uplifting material.

[@pomademahal]

This restores my faith in humanity

[@georgenorris2657]

we badly need good news like this!

[@HoboGardenerBen]

Yeah, good news that isn't bullshit. Just grounded examples of what can be done by people directly to regenerate the earth. We have the capacity to be caretakers of this planet. This global hyperconsumption paradigm has to change, and this is how it will happen. The machine will keep destroying ecosystems. Things get bad and people come together, motivated by need, to fix it. Espcially now that the species has some excellent design strategies in permaculture and agroforestry. Large scale examples demonstrate what is actually possible, and the foundation of our lives really is, the living world that we are a part of.

[@roythecactus6711]

So heartwarming to see the longterm progress of these projects. The ripples of positvity certainly seem to spread far and wide.Thank you for your continued reporting.

[@leonstenutz6003]

Millisoon -- you rock! You and all who like you are doing incredible restorative, regenerative work. ¡Thank you! | León 🦁 from Bolivia.

[@sophiareygrace6656]

LOVE THIS PROJECT! Hope more projects like these are implemented everywhere

[@hisky.]

why doesn't this have 35 million views yet

[@amillison]

It's only been a few hours. Give it some time :-)

[@Yhoshua_B]

Thank you for putting this video together and for the education and proof of impact these ideas and practices can bring.

[@anwarbousetta7316]

I have been waiting to see this update, this is just beautifull! Thanks Andrew for educating the world, you have my vote for the nobel prize!

[@TheWhoat]

Great work Andrew. Great to see.

[@joyelias6975]

This is just incredible! I saw previous videos about the great green wall and it was more of introducing the concept and not actually showing the progress. In this video, I have actually seen what these half moon dug outs can do. It's incredible.

[@daveg2491]

If I didn't have a wife and kids. My dream would be working ecological restoration projects like this. We can fix this anything with enough help! Keep up the good work and thank you for documenting

[@michaelzorro2738]

Thank you so much for sharing this video it has enlightened me at age 74.

[@t.s.29]

Wonderful initiative

[@BluBeatle]

Amazing work , Community coming together to create a better land for themselves and life around. At the same time creating a working demonstration that when we come together as a People we can move mountains.

[@nickbringolf1181]

This can and does allow local people to reclaim their sovereignty and food security... Until the corporates put a stop to it. This can be seen as dissidence to the higher ups. We truly need to break free with food systems like this. Keep it up Andrew!

[@daranks100]

It's great to see what you are doing for humanity.

[@BlakeElliott35]

I feel like somebody watched Sam Kinison speak on this issue; and said, “I can do better than bringing them u-haul trucks.”

[@Wildfla]

Hay que pedirle a dios que ahora no lo quieran despojar de sus tierras después de hacer esa gran hazaña

[@OBuBu-p8y]

I love these projects. I'm hoping to see more and more each day. Thank you for this amazing content 🙏

[@Aeyekay0]

It’s great to see that the success they are having in Nigeria. Great video, thanks for covering it

[@amillison]

This is actually Niger, not Nigeria. They are 2 separate countries.

[@nghiainthecloud]

The aerial shot of livestock and the man running got me. Beautiful !

[@boricelaforest5569]

Blessings and love to all of Africa no one in the world today should be hungry. It saddens me to see people going hungry mother Earth is a beautiful planet and we all need to be there for each other. God bless.❤❤❤❤

[@msnina5379]

I saw videos about this method a couple years ago. Its good to see this methode is successfull and still being implemented

[@Nenea1970]

Just amazing!

[@c.t.murray3632]

Assalamualaikum. This is amazing that people dig by hand the total of over 500 square miles of water retention in order to feed over half a million people. They are very successful. hugs to all of them.

[@knoll9812]

UN pays them which is better than food aid.also a way of getting wealth into country at lowest level.

[@c.t.murray3632]

@knoll9812 This gives Pride in their own village and ancestry as well. all by digging holes by hand and giving a Lifeline of water to people miles away.

[@MudassirShafi786]

Wao. So Amazing.Really a Life saving project.

[@EcologicalOne80]

Thank you. I was so depressed before seeing this.

[@schalkvandermerwe3838]

I can see how one could mechanise this too with a plow that does intermittent 'trenching' and grass-seed casting. But it's good that the communities are hands-on. Now it's knowledge that will at least last 3-4 generations if the internet goes down tomorrow.

[@HowDoIDad]

I love this and everything about this. Keep up the great work!

[@hopegrable]

This is so wonderful to see!! As the work continues, and you can also try to bring green inward from the coastal areas of the west and north, the dry season will likely get shorter and shorter. Over the next decade, this re-greening will undoubtedly change the climate for the better. God speed to all of them! 🙏💖✨

[@faithliving33]

This is so awesome! Keep up the good work! Thank you for sharing this.

[@barbkrienke8400]

This is so hopeful and amazing! It’s beyond great seeing this wonderful renewal happening by and for these communities. ❤

[@LittleDreamFarm]

Your story is deeply inspiring, Andrew. Somalia's land holds so much potential, and your efforts will not only fight climate change but also bring life and nourishment to the community. Wishing you strength and success as you carry on her incredible work. 🌱💚

[@olsim1730]

Best content on the internet 👏

[@nghiainthecloud]

Defo better than tiktok dances lol

[@grazyrj]

Aaawwww, so happy to see the cute chubby babies!! I hope soon we will have done enough good in the region to change the image the public has of Africa, from starving children to healthy and happy ones ♥

[@muhamadna5157]

Thank you for sharing this inspiring success story. I pray and hope more communities across African continent can become sustainable and independent. Africa as a continent is HUGE in terms of land, population and potential. If they can unite and work together, they can break free from poverty and food insecurity. I hope to see this day come sooner rather than later. In Sha ALLAH.

[@voiciray]

I absolutely LOVE your videos, Andrew. Thank you so much for everything you do. Much love and appreciation from Canada. 🇨🇦

[@Technoanima]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@Cringeosaurus]

Let this be motivation to anyone it gives hope to do what you can where you are to be the change you want to see in the world.

[@GermanGreetings]

The secret of success: The whole communities and tribes SEE the green results within one generation... so it directly gets into the transfer as an experiance, knowledge, into traditions and myths. A wonderful project, a strong project ! 🌱🌹

[@Ryan-gx3hs]

I could watch videos like this all day

[@craiger2399]

This project is awe inspiring!

[@cranberrypanic]

Thanks for featuring Bombino's music! My favorite artist from Niger

[@amillison]

Someone from WFP Niger is friends with him and he said we could use his music. I'm so honored!

[@cassandra2249]

I'm so excited about this. It show us how we can replenish our world.

[@faithcarponelli]

Crazy inspiring, as usual. Thank you for sharing, Andrew!

[@devendramoturu4570]

Wow some hope in these dark times .thank you so much for fillming this

[@peterroberts999]

I needed this, was feeling quite despondent with recent events so the optimistic message was very welcome thank you

[@LaurenceMartinSask]

Fantastic. ❤

[@karamjnah976]

im so happy to see them making an change in the world

[@rosemaryjane9455]

This is so encouraging. It gives us hope for the future of our lovely planet.

[@75shadystorm]

This is absolutely beautiful and wonderful ❤️

[@MrBranch69]

Really uplifting and positive - love hearing about these amazing projects - thank you!! 🤩 ❤

[@senthilkumarn4u]

Mind blowing transformation...

[@YeahMcMad]

Beautiful work❤

[@JaimeBird-n8m]

More people need to collect seeds and grow

[@muntiekchun3666]

Keep it up, hope another 500 sq miles land restore again. The government need had a department like forest rangers and forest management system to sustain existing restore land for long term and future.

[@mgharbik]

Beautiful people, beautiful Andrew!

[@johnsmiff8328]

When will we see a great green wall in the US southwest? Bring back the CCC swales perhaps? Andrew is really getting the best use out of that OSU whiteboard setup! Really impressive illustrations, better than my profs did! I wonder how long they take to plan and film.

[@amillison]

I've gotten pretty quick at this point. Designing the drawings takes a couple hours, and drawing on the light board can take 2-3 hours per drawing. It's actually a very pleasurable process for me.

[@johnsmiff8328]

@amillison It looks very relaxing once you're in the flow of things! Really glad you enjoy it

[@juanpierrebosch]

This was a good documentary, and I will watch the rest of the 4 episode to follow. This is good news "The Green Wall"

[@donmcpezorello7172]

Wow! This is gamechanging! Marvelous Work!

[@lan.o]

What an amazing project, I wish we (humanity) could spend our resources and energy on projects like this instead of waging war against people.

[@Bogitaheric]

I saw this before but you explained it all better