Boubacar Diallo

A Nigerien environmental activist who pioneered anti-desertification efforts

Boubacar Diallo (1938-1999) revolutionized ecological conservation in the Sahel region through his groundbreaking "Green Belt Initiative". At a time when desertification consumed 100,000 hectares annually, this former schoolteacher mobilized 300+ villages to plant drought-resistant acacia trees across 1,200 km².

His participatory agroforestry model combined traditional Zaï pit techniques with modern permaculture principles, increasing crop yields by 40% while restoring groundwater levels. The UNEP recognized his work as a blueprint for SDG 15 implementation in arid zones.

Diallo's most radical innovation was the "Tree Debt" system where families repaid microcredits through sapling cultivation. This created an ecological economy benefiting 50,000+ households. Despite assassination attempts by illegal loggers, his movement spread to Mali and Chad through mobile environmental schools operated via camel caravans.