Werner Sels

Werner Sels is the founder of Lignaverda, an international non-profit restoring degraded landscapes in the Great Green Wall region. After a career in entrepreneurship and technology, I dedicated myself to large-scale reforestation, climate resilience and the creation of local socio-economic opportunities in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions. With nearly two decades of field experience in the Sahel, I advocate for a shift from donation-driven aid to ethical, longterm investment models that align ecological restoration with community empowerment. I work closely with scientific partners, local teams and international stakeholders to build climate-resilient forests that generate lasting value for people and nature. I am driven by a clear purpose: proving that true, circular growth is possible when vision, responsibility and collaboration come together.