Fatima Alzahra Mohamed

Sudanese environmental scientist leading reforestation efforts in desertification zones using AI-driven agroforestry systems

Dr. Fatima Alzahra Mohamed is a Sudanese environmental scientist and founder of Green Roots Sudan, an organization pioneering innovative reforestation techniques in the Sahel region. Her work combines artificial intelligence with traditional knowledge to combat desertification, having restored over 15,000 hectares of degraded land since 2016. Her AI platform AgroMind analyzes soil data and climate patterns to determine optimal planting strategies, increasing tree survival rates by 67% in test regions.

Born in Darfur, Mohamed witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of desert encroachment on farming communities. After earning her PhD in Environmental Systems from the University of Khartoum, she developed a low-cost sensor network to monitor soil moisture levels in real-time. This system, deployed across 8 Sudanese states, has enabled farmers to implement precision irrigation practices that conserve water resources. Her 2021 study in Nature Scientific Reports demonstrated how her methods could sequester 2.3 tons of CO₂ per hectare annually.

Alzahra's community-based approach trains local youth as 'eco-ambassadors', creating over 3,000 green jobs since 2018. Her TEDx Talk "How AI Can Grow Forests in Deserts" inspired similar projects in Niger and Chad. In 2023, she received the World Wildlife Fund's Young Conservationist Award, becoming the first Sudanese recipient. Her open-source agroforestry database is used by NGOs across 12 African countries.