Many of us have a very in-the-now and in-the-near-future way of making decisions. It seems like the only time we even really think far ahead is when we save money for our kids’ college, opt for life insurance, and contribute to a retirement plan. Even then, we don’t really want to think of these far-distant things until they eventually come closer.
Haider el Ali, however, proves that it pays off to think about the far future and to actually work towards it. Since 2009, the retired politician and Senegal’s former Minister of Ecology has been engaging in the massive reforestation of a Senegalese mangrove swamp. He definitely has a soft spot for the environment and preserving ecosystems!
“The mangrove is a fantastic ecosystem that attracts rain—and it is well known scientifically that this mud captures methane, and that these leaves capture CO2,” 67-year-old el Ali said.
But sadly, lumbermen arrived at the sight of the coastal trees to clear them out. Then as a result, nearby rice fields were poisoned by the salt from the sea as water was free to enter. That’s when people realized how essential the mangrove trees were for the region.
So, instead of just worrying about the destruction of the mangrove, el Ali decided to assemble a team of volunteers nearby to plant 152 million mangrove trees with him over the span of hundreds of square miles. Several helping hands is a lot better than just two!
“Here we have a burgeoning (mangrove) leaf. You take it and you plant the lower third in the mud, and then you take 2 steps—one, two, and then you plant another one,” el Ali explained when asked how he and his volunteers propagate new trees.
It may require a lot of labor-intensive work, but el Ali couldn’t be happier with his successful project. Even 10 years later, he still loves what he does and takes pride in all of the progress done so far.
“I take a lot of satisfaction from this. I’m ready to do it every day, all evening, all my life,” he said.
el Ali is a role model! He teaches us that if we wish to make a difference, then we must go for it, even if it means asking for others’ help. He also teaches us that if we want to do something major for our planet, we should start today. All things take time, and progress always starts out small, but the sooner we start, the more progress we can make.
Learn more about el Ali’s mangrove restoration project below.
