Gaya, 5 June 2026 — The urban commune of Gaya has launched groundbreaking restoration work on 500 hectares of degraded pastoral land, funded by the Integrated Project for Urban Development and Multisectoral Resilience (PIDUREM). The initiative symbolically began at two key sites: one in Gaya and another in Tara.

Early Friday morning, the Prefect of Gaya Department presided over the launch ceremony, symbolically breaking ground alongside the municipal administrator, the Secretary-General of the Prefecture, the representative of the canton chief, the PIDUREM regional coordinator and team, the Deputy Regional Director of Environment for Dosso, the departmental director of Environment, representatives of ten partner NGOs, the Tara village chief, and local residents.

reviving pastoral landscapes through sustainable restoration

The PIDUREM-funded project aims to rehabilitate severely degraded pastoral plots, safeguard soils from erosion, and enhance land capacity to support livestock. Key measures include reforestation, installation of erosion control systems for water and wind, construction of bypass structures, and rehabilitation of access roads to streamline pastoral operations and monitoring.

fostering climate resilience and local economic growth

Officials highlight that these interventions will bolster community resilience against climate change impacts while preserving natural resources. The PIDUREM regional coordinator noted the project will generate temporary employment for nearby residents, injecting vital economic activity during the execution phase.

This initiative is part of a broader PIDUREM strategy in the region to combat land degradation, strengthen food security, and reduce farming-herding conflicts. A robust technical and environmental monitoring framework has been established to assess the effectiveness of the works and adapt practices based on real-time findings.

engaging communities and partner NGOs in sustainable land management

Direct beneficiaries include pastoral households and herders in neighboring villages, whose grazing routes will be restored and secured. Partner NGOs, integral to project delivery, will conduct awareness campaigns to promote sustainable land use and ensure the maintenance of completed works. The project has already kicked off with an initial phase of land preparation and planting set for the coming weeks. Regular evaluations and progress reports will be produced to maintain transparency and inform future disbursements from funders.