70-Year-Old Burkina Faso Man Converts Drought-Hit Desert Into Forest

A 70-year-old Burkina Faso man, Yacouba Sawadogo, did the impossible by converting a decade-old desert into forest. The septuagenarian farmer dug 'zai pits' to plant and trap required water using stones. Hit by a severe drought in 1970s and 80s, the land in question became waterless, forcing many people out of the village; but Sawadogo stayed. Interestingly, applauding his efforts, the UNEP stated that the conservation step increased crop yields by 500% in region.