Reforestation Brings Healing to Africa’s Degraded Lands

Unsustainable farming practices, deforestation, and the effects of climate change are degrading large portions of Africa’s farmland, threatening the livelihoods and food security of millions who rely on the land for survival.

Fortunately, internationally funded and locally led climate adaptation initiatives are taking root across the continent, restoring degraded lands and strengthening community resilience.

Reviving Lake Kivu and the Rusizi River basin

One of the most successful examples is the project to restore Lake Kivu and the Rusizi River Basin.
Lake Kivu—one of Africa’s Great Lakes—lies along the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda.

The Rusizi River flows about 160 kilometres from Lake Kivu through the DRC, Rwanda, and Burundi before emptying into Lake Tanganyika, a body of water roughly eight times the size of Lake Kivu.

Lake Kivu is dotted with islands whose inhabitants rely on its ecosystems for their livelihoods. It provides fish, freshwater, and a vital transport route for communities in the South Kivu region. Tourism is also on the rise, with cycling trails, bike rentals, and birdwatching becoming key attractions.

However, years of unsustainable land use, including deforestation and monocropping, have resulted in severe soil erosion. This erosion damages farmland, reduces food security, pollutes waterways, and threatens both fish populations and hydropower generation.

Local initiatives bringing land back to life

Across Africa, numerous locally led land restoration projects are underway. These initiatives focus on tree planting and soil restoration, helping to prevent erosion, improve soil fertility, and provide long-term benefits such as cooler local climates, cleaner water, and stronger ecosystems.

One standout example is Restore Local’s TerraFund partnership, which has already:

• Planted over 5 million trees,
• Begun restoring 13,000 hectares of land, and
• Employed more than 18,000 residents around Lake Kivu and the Rusizi River Basin.

These projects have had transformative effects, creating new income opportunities while improving environmental conditions.

“Restoring land is not just about healing the earth,” said Lionel Kwizera, agroecology programme manager at PVC-Burundi. “It’s about restoring hope, dignity, and opportunity for our communities.”

Dieudonne Birori Gaparani, programme manager at Plant With Purpose, added, “We’re not just planting trees; we’re planting resilience, restoring soil, and reviving livelihoods.”

Building climate resilience and hope

These nature-based solutions do more than protect the environment—they empower communities to adapt to the challenges of climate change, improve local economies, and secure sustainable futures.

Restoring degraded lands helps reduce poverty, enhance food security, and protect ecosystems essential to life across Africa.

As local leaders emphasise, land restoration represents both environmental healing and human renewal, demonstrating that climate adaptation, when locally led, can deliver powerful and lasting change.

Watch the video “Powerful Alliance: Discover Three Champions Revitalising Lake Kivu’s Islands” below.