How does the Great Green Wall initiative aim to slow desertification near the Sahara Desert?

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sand dunes — Sahara Sand dunes in the Sahara, near Merzouga, Morocco.

The Great Green Wall for the Sahara and Sahel Initiative aims to combat the southward expansion of the Sahara and the resulting desertification of the Sahel region.1

Conceived in 2005 and developed with the support of the African Union and international partners, the initiative focuses on creating a barrier to prevent the desert from encroaching further onto southern lands. The project involves planting drought-resistant native trees across a 9-mile- (15-kilometer-) wide swath of territory, stretching from the western to the eastern edges of the African continent. By establishing this vegetative "wall," the initiative seeks to stabilize the environment and stall the movement of the desert.1