Ouahigouya, December 3, 2023 (AIB) – Yacouba Sawadogo, renowned for his efforts in combating desertification in northern Burkina Faso, passed away at the age of 77 on Sunday in Ouahigouya. He was known as the “Champion of the Earth 2020.”
According to Burkina Information Agency, Sawadogo died in the early hours of December 3, 2023, at the Regional University Hospital Center (CHUR) in Ouahigouya following a prolonged illness. He was buried the same evening in his courtyard in Gourga, located in sector 15 of Ouahigouya.
Born in 1946 in the province of Yatenga, in the Northern region, Sawadogo was recognized as a land champion on December 11, 2020. His commitment to environmental conservation also earned him the alternative Nobel Prize in 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Sawadogo, who had attended Koranic school in Mali, returned to his native village to work as a trader. In the 1980s, when severe droughts drastically reduced agricultural yields and led to famine in the region, he began his life’s work to combat these challenges. Utilizing the zaï technique, which translates to “start early” in the Moore language, Sawadogo planted thousands of trees on land that was once lateritic and abandoned. His efforts resulted in a 27-hectare forest, now home to over 96 tree species, 66 types of herbs, and approximately 40 species of wild animals.
Sawadogo’s 51-year battle against desertification not only transformed the landscape but also inspired many. He is survived by three wives and 27 children, who remain committed to continuing his environmental legacy.