Gaya, June 5, 2026 — The urban commune of Gaya has initiated a major project to restore 500 hectares of degraded pastoral lands, backed by the Integrated Urban Development and Multisectoral Resilience Project (PIDUREM). Two key sites — one in Gaya and another in Tara — were chosen to symbolically launch the initiative.
Early in the morning, the Prefect of Gaya Department led the kickoff ceremony, symbolically breaking ground with a ceremonial shovel alongside the commune’s acting administrator, the prefecture’s secretary general, the canton chief’s representative, the PIDUREM regional coordinator, and the project team. Also present were the Deputy Regional Director of Environment for Dosso, the local Environment Department head, representatives from ten partner NGOs, the Tara village chief, and a significant portion of the local population.
Restoring degraded lands for pastoral use
The PIDUREM-funded initiative aims to rehabilitate severely degraded pastoral plots, strengthen soil against erosion, and enhance the land’s capacity to support livestock. The planned improvements include reforestation efforts, measures to combat water and wind erosion, construction of bypass structures, and rehabilitation of access roads to facilitate pastoral activities and monitoring.
Boosting local resilience and economic opportunities
The project is designed to bolster community resilience to climate change impacts while safeguarding natural resources. According to PIDUREM’s regional coordinator, the works will generate temporary employment for nearby residents, injecting economic benefits into the local economy during the execution phase.
This initiative is part of a broader series of actions by PIDUREM in the region to curb land degradation, support food security, and reduce conflicts between farmers and herders. The project will include continuous technical and environmental monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the interventions and adapt practices based on outcomes.
Direct benefits for pastoral households and ongoing community engagement
Local pastoral households and herders in neighboring villages will directly benefit from the restored and secured grazing routes. Partner NGOs involved in implementation will conduct awareness campaigns to promote sustainable land management and ensure the upkeep of completed structures. Work has already commenced, with the first phase of land preparation and planting scheduled for the coming weeks. Regular evaluations and progress reports will be produced to ensure transparency and inform future funding disbursements.