Where Will the Memorial Take Root?

The Atlantic Slave Memorial will be grown along the northern bank of the Gambia River, a region deeply tied to the transatlantic slave trade. This area was a central departure point for millions of enslaved Africans, and today it faces severe ecological degradation. The memorial will take root as part of Africa’s Great Green Wall, a vast reforestation effort spanning from The Gambia to Djibouti, aiming to restore land, combat desertification, and create sustainable livelihoods.

The memorial will consist of 15 million trees—one for each life lost to the Atlantic slave trade. These trees will be planted in community forests, along roadsides, in public spaces, and within degraded ecosystems, including mangroves. This initiative will not only honor history but also serve as a long-term investment in the region’s ecological and economic future.