Impacts of anthropogenic pressures and climate change on agroforestry parks in western Niger

Despite their socio-economic and environmental importance, agroforestry parks undergo various pressures which threaten their existence. The study objective is to study the sustainability of agroforestry parks in the municipalities of Gotheye, Tagazar and Torodi in order to find out which of the anthropogenic or climatic factors impacts them most. For this purpose, two types of data were collected, namely dendrometric data through a floristic inventory and rainfall data acquired from the National Directorate of Meteorology. Our results on climate characterization from SPI and their trend have shown the return of favorable (wetter) conditions to vegetation development. Thus, a year of rupture was highlighted by the Pettitt test in 1991 for the municipality of Tagazar, confirming the positive evolution of rainfall. The eight (8) identified parks types are heavely anthropized with an anthropization rate of at least 64% varying from one park to another. The anthropizing factors that weigh the most on these parks are logging (energy and pastoral). The most viable parks are those of Tagazar and Gotheye unlike those of Torodi which are experiencing advanced degradation. Thus, our results suggest that parks are more affected by anthropogenic than climatic actions. For the sustainability of these parks, it is important to take inclusive measures that allow all stakeholders to be involved in the management and exploitation of park resources.