IOC launches “Olympic Forest” project

Through this latest project, the IOC is committed to the reforestation of the Sahel region alongside the Great Green Wall initiative, which aims to rebuild the degraded ecosystem of this part of Africa.

355,000 trees will be planted in nearly 90 villages in Senegal – where the next Youth Olympic Games will be held in 2026 – and Mali, covering an area of 2,120 hectares.

“The Olympic Forest will help Malian and Senegalese communities by building resilience to the effects of climate change, improving their food security and increasing their sources of income, and will help the IOC to become a climate positive organisation by 2024. The Olympic Movement’s ambition is to build a better world through sport, and the Olympic Forest is a perfect example of this aspiration,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.

The IOC will work with TreeAid to bring the Olympic Forest to life. The first plantings are planned for 2022.

Photo credit : TreeAid

Graphic : IOC