In the Sahel, the World Food Program and local communities are doing something both low-tech and deeply strategic: restoring land so it can feed people again. It depends on simple engineering placed in the right geometry. “Half-moon” earthworks are laid on contour to intercept runoff during heavy rains. Water that used to race downhill and cause floods is slowed, pooled, and allowed to soak in. Inside and around those half-moons, “zai pits” catch organic matter and concentrate moisture and nutrients, giving seeds and young trees a chance to grow in a harsh climate. Over time, those points become hubs where grasses, trees, animals, and new seed arrivals start rebuilding an ecosystem.

Restored land grows fodder for livestock, edible leaves and fruits from hardy native trees, and provides shade that drops local temperatures. A continuous canopy also breaks drying desert winds, helping stop further desert expansion. Instead of runoff and hardpan, water infiltrates and begins to recharge the local water table. That rising groundwater supports market gardens in nearby villages, creating year-round or near year-round food production where it was not possible before.

This is a prime example of how we can work within nature’s established patterns, helping both people and the planet.