In this episode of Green the Desert, host Louis De Jaeger speaks with Dorothy Aseyo, Executive Director of the Green Belt Movement, one of Africa’s environmental organizations.

Dorothy shares the movement’s mission to combat desertification through grassroots action, community empowerment, and ecological restoration — continuing the legacy of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai. She offers deep insights into the watershed approach to ecosystem restoration, the power of community engagement, and how technology is being used to monitor and scale impact.

This episode dives into:

• The importance of celebrating conservation efforts to sustain motivation

• The value chain approach to environmental investment

• Stories of transformation across communities

• The need for global solidarity in facing climate change

• Dorothy’s own inspiring journey in the field of regeneration
  

A conversation about hope, leadership, and the grounded work of healing both land and society.

In this episode of Green the Desert, Werner Sels shares his remarkable journey from a successful IT career to leading ambitious desert regeneration projects. He reveals how his non-profit blends smart economic models with deep ecological impact — and why true success depends on empowering local communities, especially women.

You’ll discover:

• How sustainable land restoration is transforming lives and landscapes

• The real-world economics of CO2 certification and tree-planting challenges

• The surprising potential of tree products like Arabic gum

• Why biodiversity isn’t optional — it’s essential for long-term success

• Creative, community-led strategies that make reforestation truly work
  

Werner doesn’t just talk about planting trees — he talks about planting futures.

Tune in for an honest, hopeful conversation about restoring ecosystems, creating lasting value, and inspiring the next generation of land stewards.

Chris Reij, an expert in desert restoration, shares his insights on sustainable land restoration in areas adjacent to deserts, such as the Sahel region. He emphasises the importance of working in areas with higher rainfall and population densities to maximise impact.

Chris discusses his background in soil and water conservation and the breakthroughs he witnessed in Burkina Faso, where farmers improved and adopted traditional techniques, leading to the restoration of degraded land. He also highlights the remarkable re-greening phenomenon in Niger, where farmers spontaneously protected and managed on-farm trees, resulting in the transformation of 5 million hectares of land. In this conversation, Chris Reij discusses the success stories of regreening efforts in Africa, particularly in Niger and Malawi.

He emphasises the importance of farmer-led initiatives and the role of communication in spreading these success stories. Reij highlights the need for a shift in mindset from project-based approaches to process-based approaches, focusing on replicable and low-cost techniques.

He also addresses the challenges of outdated forestry legislation and the need for agricultural development policies that support integrated farming systems. Reij concludes by emphasising the multiple benefits of increasing on-farm tree numbers and the potential for scaling up regreening efforts in Africa.