In Niger’s Tahoua region, a major land restoration effort is helping reverse environmental degradation and strengthen rural livelihoods. The Integrated Landscape Management Project (PGIP), led by the Ministry of Environment, Hydraulics and Sanitation, operates in 15 municipalities across the departments of Tahoua, Illéla, Bagaroua, Bouza, Kéita, and Madaoua.
This work forms part of the Sahel RESILAND program, which links national projects like PGIP with regional initiatives to foster knowledge sharing, coordinate investments, and scale up proven solutions.
In Niger, Sahel RESILAND has brought more than 42,000 hectares of land under sustainable management, helping communities reclaim productivity in the face of desertification. By combining nature-based solutions with community-driven approaches, it supports food security, strengthens climate resilience, and promotes inclusive growth across fragile regions most affected by land degradation and resource scarcity.
Launched in July 2023 with US$150 million in World Bank financing, PGIP is a six-year program covering 82 municipalities nationwide. It promotes climate-smart practices while improving rural incomes.
In Tahoua, the project has already restored about 18,000 hectares of degraded land and implemented Assisted Natural Regeneration (RNA) on 10,500 hectares. A total of 299 sites have been developed using agricultural and silvopastoral half-moons, RNA, and measures to combat terrestrial invasive plants.
PGIP also strengthens local planning and resource management. It has supported the preparation of Communal Development Plans for Bagaroua, Tebaram, and Bambeye; restocked the Erouf pond in Abdouga; and conducted feasibility studies for an Integrated Community Agricultural Farm in Guidan Karo.
The impact is visible. In Illéla Department, 57 restored sites are improving land productivity and providing income for rural youth, reducing migration pressures. Women’s groups are also expanding agricultural income-generating activities that support household needs.
In Bambeye, 42 sites have been rehabilitated, turning previously barren areas into productive landscapes. In Bouza Department, PGIP is restoring the 4,020-hectare Karofane Forest, a protected area that had gone decades without maintenance and was overrun by Sida cordifolia, a plant unpalatable to livestock.
To address this, PGIP is investing over 230 million FCFA to treat 2,000 hectares, working with 14 local NGOs and mobilizing surrounding villages. Restoration efforts include manually removing invasive plants and other targeted actions to revive the forest’s ecosystem.
As implementation continues, PGIP is showing how ecological restoration and livelihood development can go hand in hand—helping communities adapt to climate challenges, protect natural resources, and build a more sustainable future for the Sahel.
This article is adapted from the French-language original published by Agence Nigérienne de Presse on August 8, 2025.
