as conditions improved, samuel bantang was able to increase his herd. samuel: it has helped a lot.fe used to be much harder. but now things are different. we have a proper income, we can look after our families, pay for health insurance and school fees. and everybody has enough to eat. reporter: in yameriga, 82 hectares of land have so far been reforested. but large stretches still look like a desert. degraded dryland regions may have countless intact tree root systems that could yet yield new trees, if they are properly tended. rinaudo organizes conferences across africa on f.m.n.r. also in countries that are in turmoil, such as mali. he was recently in bamako. rinaudo has devoted his life to restoring africa's forests. he says regenerating local vegetation improves the lives of millions. and giving people hope can help transform the political landscape as well in many a country. tony: it would transform the whole country, because it has that potential. people to be able to be self-sufficient on their own land, they are not going to be so interested in joining a fight somewhere el