[posted on 5 February 2004]

Where people live intimately with nature

In the hydrological basin of the Niger River ('egerou n-igereou' or 'the river of rivers'), shared by nine countries, live today more than 100 million people. They are estimated to double by the year 2020. Of these, a considerable number depend solely on the natural resources of this major river for fishing, grazing, irrigation and transport. Through this intimate relationship with nature, they have developed through the ages a strong cultural heritage, evident in their structures, boats, dress, common practices and customs.

This is a rich area in history and culture, where the great empires of the VIII^th and XVI^th centuries were born ( Ghana, Mali, Songhay), succeeded by the theocratic states of Sekou Ahmadou and Elhaj Omar Tall. The Niger Inner Delta includes many historic towns (such as Hamdallayi, Dia and Djenné). The last one, along with the Bandiagara escarpment, has been declared a World Heritage Site. Mopti is today the main city, and is developing into an ecotourism centre.

On 27-30 January 2003, a workshop was held in Mopti on regional collaboration for the wetlands of the Niger Basin. The representatives of the nine countries and the international organisations present agreed on a joint transboundary initiative –NigerWet–, aiming at the conservation of nature and the sustainable use of natural resources for the benefit of the people in the area. The next day, the government of Mali announced formally the designation of the Niger Inner Delta, an area exceeding four million hectares, as a Ramsar Site of International Importance under the Convention on Wetlands.

Med-INA was present in both events, through its director, Thymio Papayannis, who was asked to transfer the experience in regional collaboration obtained in the Mediterranean in the framework of the MedWet Initiative.