Faisal bin Ali Al-Idrisi

Moroccan environmental scientist who pioneered desertification reversal techniques in the Sahara during the 1960s

Faisal bin Ali Al-Idrisi (1930–1975) was a Moroccan botanist whose research created viable ecosystems in the Sahara Desert. Born in Marrakech, he observed rapid desert expansion during his childhood and pursued botany studies at Rabat University. His 1955 discovery of Stipagrostis scoparia grass varieties capable of surviving extreme droughts became the cornerstone of his life's work.

In 1962, Al-Idrisi initiated the Green Belt Project, planting over 10 million drought-resistant trees across 500km of the Moroccan-Algerian border. He developed 'sand fences' using local acacia branches to stabilize dunes, a method still used today. His 1968 《Desert Reclamation Manual》 outlined techniques for rehabilitating degraded land, which influenced UN environmental programs.

Al-Idrisi's most radical innovation was the Sahara Hydroponics System (1970), using solar-powered irrigation to grow crops in arid zones. Though initially dismissed, his methods now support 150,000+ farmers in North Africa. The 2019 Nature article credits him with reversing 12% of regional desertification before his untimely death in a fieldwork accident.