Vast areas of the Maradi and Zinder regions of Niger were transformed from severely degraded farmland to agroforests through farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR). In the 1970s and 1980s, Maradi and Zinder faced an ecological crisis. Multiple droughts, rapid soil degradation, and famine left fuelwood, building materials, and fodder scarce, and agriculture nearly untenable. Because FMNR improved agricultural yields and was relatively easy to implement, it spread through external interventions and farmer-to-farmer exchange. More than 90% of Maradi’s population now encourages selective trees to grow on farms. FMNR transformed 5 million ha from wasteland to agroforest as individual farmers invested in trees.

Type of Case
Printed publication (book, sourcebook, journal article…)

Publisher
Forestoration International

Region
Africa

Biome
Arid lands

Forest Type
Degraded forest

Primary Designated Function
All