Key Impact Points:
- Global innovators: Ten young leaders under 35 are pioneering sustainable land management to fight desertification.
- Impactful initiatives: Projects include reforestation, agroforestry, and innovative education tools.
- A shared goal: Their work demonstrates how collective action can protect livelihoods, biodiversity, and the planet.
Inspiring Change Through Innovation
The UNCCD’s 2024 Land Heroes showcase groundbreaking solutions to combat desertification. These leaders, all under 35, are using their expertise to protect land, restore ecosystems, and empower communities globally.
Mali: Rokiatou Traoré
A “green entrepreneur,” Rokiatou has trained 100 women to create products from 20,000 drought-resistant moringa trees, exporting organic teas, oils, and baby food to seven countries.
- Ambition: By 2030, she plans to plant 10 million trees and create a network of women producers.
- “A seed is a life in dormancy. Give it water, soil, and protection, and it can address desertification, poverty, and malnutrition for good.”
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Driving Reforestation
Zimbabwe: Takudzwa Ashley Mlambo
Leading the Forestry & Citrus Research initiative, Takudzwa uses AI and satellite monitoring to plant and track one billion trees.
- Mission: Restore land, reverse desertification, and keep global temperatures below 1.5°C.
- “The greener we go, the cooler it becomes.”
Philippines: Billie Crystal G. Dumaliang
Through the Masungi Georeserve Foundation, Billie leads efforts to restore 2,700 hectares of watershed areas, protecting Metro Manila from extreme weather.
- Vision: Reinforce natural defenses against climate change through reforestation and geotourism.
- “Filipinos are experiencing severe impacts of drought and land degradation. We need to preserve biodiversity and mitigate these challenges through boots-on-the-ground efforts.”
Building Resilient Communities
India: Siddhesh Sakore
Growing up in a farming family, Siddhesh founded AGRO RANGERS to tackle soil degradation by transitioning farmers to organic agroforestry practices.
- Goal: Equip farmers in drought-prone Pune with sustainable solutions for resilient agriculture.
- “The fight against desertification starts with sustainable, community-driven agricultural practices.”
Costa Rica: Astrid Peraza
Astrid developed “Rescuing Penguins,” a board game teaching climate solutions, and contributes to Vivero Verde Mar’s mangrove reforestation project.
- Message: Collaboration is key to overcoming desertification’s challenges.
- “When we talk about climate change, working alone is not an option.”
The Bottom Line
These Land Heroes are proof that innovative, community-driven efforts can combat desertification and secure a sustainable future. By sharing their solutions and uniting communities, they inspire global action to protect the planet.
Related Article: How Desertification is Changing the World
