After years of water scarcity and soil degradation, the Sahel region’s resources fell out of step with the needs of its residents. This arid region in West Africa was unable to yield adequate crops to feed people and livestock. After a multi-year project to improve rainwater retention and revive soil fertility, the region is back on track. Satellite data revealed a 50 percent increase in vegetation—a vital improvement that helped keep communities fed.
USAID and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) research teams used satellite imagery and precipitation data to track the impact of the ponds. They found that greenness increased over a nine-year period and was nearly 50 percent higher in areas where restoration practices were introduced. The analysis was conducted by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and the joint USAID-NASA SERVIR program. SERVIR helps countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America use satellite data to address critical challenges related to agriculture, climate, land, and water resources.
Two years after the project ended in Niger, the USAID GeoCenter assisted with a second analysis. This time, high-resolution satellite imagery confirmed that the vegetation growth had sustained. And in early 2023, a team from USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance conducted site visits. Participants reported significant restoration of degraded land. They also saw more porous and nutrient-rich soil, slowed desertification, and the return of many flora and fauna species not seen in years. Post-intervention, the satellite imagery helped quantify the local reports about improvements.
A USAID project with the World Food Program helped rehabilitate land for local farmers in the Sahel country of Niger. Satellite imagery analysis showed significant increases in vegetation across one hundred thousand hectares.
