ASET, in collaboration with the “Ibn Al Baytar” Association and the Averroès Foundation, launched the RAIN project at the conclusion of the Third International Tree Forum in Marrakech in April 2024.

The RAIN project aims to address several global challenges, including combating climate change, reducing poverty and inequalities, and promoting prosperity and peace. By creating a forest belt along the African Atlantic coast, this project aspires to restore regular rainfall in the arid regions of Africa, thereby offering more favorable climatic conditions for local populations.

The proposed method involves collaboration with governments, local communities, scientists, and policymakers to forest coastal areas while promoting economic and social development. This forest belt will be created and maintained by a network of small, resilient farms that respect living organisms and are adapted to each biotope. Each site will evolve around agroforestry with a mini forest at the heart of its practices.

The project will be implemented gradually, starting with a pilot phase in Morocco, followed by expansion across Africa, and eventually to Europe.

Expected outcomes include climate change mitigation, improved soil quality, increased food security, job creation, and enhanced social cohesion.

The RAIN project is designed to be resilient and adaptable, with the ultimate goal of restoring and protecting ecosystems, improving the well-being of local populations, and contributing to a more sustainable future for all.