A first envelope of $73 million for the rehabilitation of the “green dam
The Algerian government has recently unveiled an ambitious plan to enhance and expand the "green dam", a vast forest belt stretching over 15,000 kilometers, linking the eastern and western borders of Algeria. The program, which spans over a period of 7 years and involves an investment of $552 million, aims to reinvigorate and revitalize this natural gem. For the year 2023, the Algerian Directorate General of Forestry has already allocated a sum of $73 million to initiate the process of rehabilitating the green dam.
The rehabilitation work will be executed by the Public Group of Rural Engineering (GGR) and the National Bureau of Studies for Rural Development (BNEDER). The plan aims to reforest an area of 7,440.5 hectares of forested land, cultivate 2,640 hectares of pasture, 444.16 hectares of prickly pear, and 4,331.5 hectares of fruit trees, along with planting windbreaks covering a distance of 1,012.5 km. Moreover, the project includes efforts to establish a green belt over 929.5 hectares and initiatives to stabilize sand dunes on an area of 1,129.5 hectares. Preserving water and soil resources is a top priority, with the aim of conserving 30,100 m3 of this vital resource.
This year's work on the green dam marks the beginning of a comprehensive 7-year program spanning from 2023 to 2030, with a budget of $552 million. The objective of the project is to increase the initial perimeter of the green dam, which is about 3.7 million hectares, to 4.7 million hectares, and extend its influence to 13 wilayas, three more than when this mega-project was first launched.
Former Algerian President, Houari Boumediene, initiated the Green Dam project in the 1970s with the aim of creating a vast forest belt, stretching over 1,500 kilometers and about 20 kilometers wide, to act as a natural barrier against the encroaching desert.
Despite the many environmental benefits of the Green Dam project, some experts believe that it carries more economic than environmental advantages. Environmental activist Karim Tedjani stated that this new project has been conceptualized as a sustainable development zone rather than a green dam, per se. He believes that the project's goals must be transformed into tangible, sustainable results. It is at this crucial stage that most problems arise.
The Algerian government's green dam rehabilitation and extension program is a grand initiative that will contribute significantly to the preservation of the country's ecology and natural resources. It is hoped that this project will set a new precedent for sustainable development in the country and serve as a model for other nations to follow.
