Contribution of assisted natural regeneration (ANR) to climate change mitigation and diversification of ecosystem services in Dan saga village (Maradi-Niger)

As an agro-ecological intensification technique, assisted natural regeneration (ANR) protects agrosystems and guarantees cereal production in a Sahelian context of high demographic pressure and climate variability. This study aims to assess the local perception of assisted natural regeneration in mitigating the effects of drought and climate change and its impacts on soil fertility and crop production. Surveys, based on a participatory approach of individual and collective consultations, were conducted with stakeholders. The water profile and bulk density of areas under ANR and outside ANR were determined from soil samples taken in the rainy and dry seasons at different depths (0 - 200 cm). Vegetative growth and yield components were monitored on 100 plots of 100 m2 (10x10m) with 50 plots in ANR and 50 in non-ANR areas. The results showed that both zones had the same species composition for the dominant woody species, but their average densities were higher in the areas under assisted natural regeneration than in the areas without. Density is lower in the aureoles close to the village than those far from it in any zone. Soil moisture content is higher in the ANR and non-ANR areas than in the non-ANR area in the shallow horizons. However, in the deep horizons down to 200 cm, the volume moisture is higher in the Non-NAR and Uncovered NAR zones respectively than in the Under-Cover NAR zone. Apart from the seedling density, all agronomic performance parameters are significantly higher in the RNA zone than in the non-RAN zone. In terms of farmers' perception, the practice of ANR attenuates the impacts on natural resources (water, land, vegetation) and on production systems. More than 92.2% of the respondents reported that increased dust winds, increased night time temperature, decreased rainfall events as well as their amounts in height are the impacts experienced before the practice of ANR. The practice of ANR contributes to the mitigation of climate variability, improvement of soil structure and carbon sequestration.