Land Use Dynamics and Ecosystem Services in the Municipality of Dogo, Niger

Abstract

Wetlands in the Sahel provide important ecosystem services for rural communities, but their functioning is increasingly influenced by land-use change and climate variability. This study assessed land-use dynamics, rainfall patterns, and perceived ecosystem services in the rural municipality of Dogo, Zinder Region, Niger. Socioeconomic information was collected from 93 respondents in four villages along the Korama Valley using a questionnaire on ecosystem services and local environmental change. Land-use changes were analysed using Landsat images from 1986 and 2025, while rainfall and temperature data were used to describe climatic variability and projected relationships with selected ecosystem services. The results show that provisioning services are the most frequently recognised by local populations. Among food-related uses, cereal crops were cited most often, with a citation rate of 75%, followed by fruits, vegetables, and tubers. Land-use analysis indicated an expansion of rain-fed cropland from 31.11% of the municipal area in 1986 to 78.14% in 2025. Wooded steppe declined from 43.57% to 10.79%, and bare land decreased from 23.13% to 2.35%. Settlements increased from 0.25% to 3.40%, while wetlands increased from 1.93% to 5.30%. Annual rainfall ranged from 291.8 mm to 918.2 mm, with an increasing trend after 2013. Regression results suggest that rainfall is associated with changes in wetlands, carbon storage, pollination, and wooded steppe, although the strength of these relationships varies by scenario. The findings indicate that land-use conversion, demographic pressure, and climatic variability jointly influence ecosystem services in Dogo.