Sahara desert
This morning at LBi we were privileged to have a visit from Magnus Larsson, a graduate architect with an amazing vision for stopping the spread of the Sahara Desert southwards – an inexorable process that is disrupting the lives of many Africans living in the region. Magnus talked to us about his life and his most recent presentation at TEDGlobal 2009, and took us on the journey that he’s been on for these past few years.
His idea hinges on the introduction of bacteria into the Saharan sand dune ecosystem – a process which solidifies the dunes and turns them into sandstone. Coupled with a plan to build a green wall of trees right the way across the African continent, Magnus suggests that the desert might be slowed down from growing at its current rate of 30 miles a year, as well as creating the opportunity for creating living spaces for the region’s many inhabitants.
But most of all, I enjoyed his honesty and openness, as he shared the story of his recent life, and the opportunity to start today with a truly inspirational character…