Commemoration of FAO’s 80th anniversary: the Great Green Wall Initiative selected for global recognition

To commemorate the FAO’s 80th anniversary, a call for nominations was launched to honour global forestry champions who have made an outstanding contribution to sustainable forest management, the transformation of agrifood systems, innovation and good practices, as well as to other global processes related to the Organization’s mandate.

Among the hundreds of nominations received from all over the world, the Great Green Wall Initiative was selected for global recognition of best practices and innovative approaches in sustainable forest production and protection (see Global Recognition of Best Practices and Innovative Approaches in Sustainable Forest Production and Protection), in recognition of its role in restoring Sahelian landscapes and forests, a cornerstone of resilient and sustainable agrifood systems.

Accordingly, on behalf of the Great Green Wall and its member countries, the Executive Secretary of the Pan-African Agency of the Great Green Wall (PAGGW), Mr. Almoustapha Garba, will receive this distinction at FAO headquarters in Rome on 15 October 2025, together with five other recipients invited to attend the ceremony and receive their respective awards.

This event, scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Rome time, or 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. GMT), will be broadcast live worldwide on the United Nations television channel at the following address: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1q/k1qot1iqjp

You are warmly invited to experience this unique moment live, the fruit of our efforts and our various contributions.