Mali

At Enterprise Forward, the organization is implementing a community-based land restoration initiative in Nioro du Sahel, Mali, focusing on combating desertification and promoting sustainable land use practices. This project engages local faith leaders and youth groups to restore degraded lands through tree planting, soil fertility improvement, and traditional water conservation methods. In collaboration with faith communities, the organization integrate spiritual values with ecological stewardship to inspire active participation in ecosystem restoration. As part of the Los & Damage Research Observatory (IIED), the organization also conduct research on how climate-induced land degradation impacts vulnerable communities and use these insights to guide their interventions. The organization plan to scale these efforts to other regions in Mali and neighboring countries by fostering partnerships between faith institutions, researchers, and community-based organizations. Climate variability exacerbates soil degradation, while competing land uses (agriculture vs. Restoration) often hinder long-term sustainability.