Khalid Fahmy

Egyptian environmental scientist who pioneered desert reforestation techniques in the 1940s

Dr. Khalid Fahmy (1912-1975) was an Egyptian botanist whose innovative methods transformed desert landscapes. Working in the Nile Valley's western deserts, he developed the Fahmy Reforestation Technique that combined drought-resistant acacia species with water-harvesting terraces. His 1948 project at the Wadi Saba Oasis created 12,000 hectares of arable land, supporting new agricultural communities. Fahmy's mobile seed banks distributed native plant species across 7 North African countries. His 1953 publication <《Greening the Sahara》 became a key resource for UN environmental programs. Fahmy's work inspired the 1960s Pan-African Green Belt Initiative, and his techniques are still used in modern desertification projects like the Great Green Wall. The Egyptian government honored him with the Order of the Nile in 1968 for his contributions to sustainable development.