Gaya, June 5, 2026 — The urban commune of Gaya has initiated an ambitious project to rehabilitate 500 hectares of degraded pastoral lands, funded by the Integrated Urban Development and Multisectoral Resilience Project (PIDUREM). The groundbreaking ceremony kicked off at two key locations: one in Gaya and another in Tara, symbolizing the start of large-scale restoration efforts.
Under the early morning sun, the Prefect of the Gaya Department presided over the launch event, symbolically breaking ground alongside the Municipal Administrator, the Prefect’s Secretary-General, the Canton Chief’s representative, and the PIDUREM Regional Coordinator. Officials from the Regional Environment Directorate of Dosso, the Departmental Environment Directorate, representatives of ten partner NGOs, the Tara Village Chief, and local residents gathered to witness the historic moment.
Reviving degraded pastoral ecosystems
The PIDUREM-funded initiative focuses on restoring severely degraded pastoral lands, protecting soils from erosion, and enhancing land capacity to support livestock. Key interventions include reforestation, installation of water and wind erosion control measures, construction of bypass structures, and rehabilitation of access roads to streamline pastoral activities and monitoring.
Boosting local resilience and livelihoods
The project is designed to strengthen community resilience against climate change impacts while safeguarding natural resources. The PIDUREM Regional Coordinator emphasized that the works would generate temporary employment for local populations, providing immediate economic benefits during the project’s implementation phase.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy by PIDUREM to combat land degradation, promote food security, and reduce conflicts between farmers and herders. Continuous technical and environmental monitoring will ensure that interventions remain effective and adaptable to evolving conditions.
Community engagement and sustainable land management
The project will directly benefit pastoral households and neighboring herders by restoring and securing grazing routes. Partner NGOs are actively involved in awareness campaigns to promote sustainable land management and ensure the long-term maintenance of completed works. Work has already begun, with the first phase of site preparation and planting scheduled for the coming weeks. Regular assessments and progress reports will be conducted to maintain transparency and facilitate subsequent disbursements from funding partners.
