A Ramsar-protected Sahel wetland lake sustaining rich birdlife and local livelihoods in southern Niger
Mare de Lassouri
Mare de Lassouri is a shallow freshwater lake in the Sahel zone of southern Niger, lying in the Zinder Region across the communes of Guidimouni and Damagaram Takaya. Situated in the southwestern part of the Chad Basin, it sits within a landscape that is relatively humid by Nigerien standards, surrounded by bushy and woody savanna vegetation. The lake is a designated Ramsar wetland of international importance, recognized for its role as a refuge for waterbirds and as a vital natural resource for surrounding communities.
More than twenty thousand individual birds, including migratory species, rely on the Mare de Lassouri, making it one of the most important bird habitats in this part of the Sahel. The surrounding wetland collects a diverse plant community that includes aquatic species as well as typical Sahelian trees. Beyond its ecological value, the lake underpins the everyday life of nearby villages: it provides drinking water, supports fishing, enables irrigated cultivation of vegetables and staples, and sustains livestock in surrounding grazing lands.
The site combines species-rich wetland habitat with an intensively used rural landscape, creating both conservation opportunities and challenges. Wind-driven siltation, pesticide contamination from nearby agriculture, overgrazing, and excessive woodcutting all threaten the long-term balance of the ecosystem, underscoring the importance of its protected status.
