la barrière mécanique anti-érosive influence la colonisation des dunes par les espèces végétales

Mechanical Anti-erosive Barrier increases Colonization of Fixed Sand Dune by Plant Species. South-Eastern Niger is subject to wind erosion. In the region of Gouré, the oasis basins are the main source of agricultural production and incomes. But these are threatened to disappear because of the phenomenon of sanding up. Many sand dune fixation methods were tested without any substantial results. In this work, a mechanical antierosive barrier, made of Leptadenia pyrotechnica branches, was used to test its effectiveness for soil erosion control and plant restoration. Three years after the implementation of this barrier, the treated areas were colonised by spontaneous vegetation made up of 58 plant species belonging to 20 families including 17 perennials, i.e. 42 additional species more than in the untreated areas. Over the years, the floristic composition has gradually stabilised, reflecting a significant reduction of environmental disturbances caused by wind.