Bridging Research and Action: Insights from Guiè’s Sahelian Hedgerow Innovation
Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to sustainable land management across West Africa, WASCAL recently conducted a scientific field visit to the Guiè pilot site, renowned as a pioneering Sahelian Hedgerow (Bocage) system, a concept led by the NGO TERRE VERTE. Beyond a technical exchange, the visit underscored the powerful role of grassroots innovations in shaping regional climate resilience and land restoration strategies. Leonard Akoba, Charles Lamoussa Sanou and Kwame Oppong Hackman prepared this blog.
The visit was part of WASCAL’s COINS (Co-developing Innovations for Sustainable Land Management) project activities aimed at strengthening its network across West Africa on Sustainable Land Management (SLM). Guiè, located in Burkina Faso’s Oubritenga Province, was chosen for its proven agroecological practices and the long-term success in the implementation of this novel land management technology that reconcile human interest with environmental protection.
What is the Sahelian Hedgerow System?
Developed to combat land degradation and desertification , the bocage system in Guiè integrates:
Hedgerows of native trees to protect fields and enhance biodiversity;
Zaï holes for improved water retention and soil fertility;
Founfounza techniques inspired by traditional practices of farmers communities in Zimbabwe;
Crop rotation that prevents nutrient depletion and improves yields;
Small-scale retention basins designed to capture and store water for agricultural irrigation purposes.
Microclimatic changes due to hedgerows
Pest dynamics and soil organic matter in bocage farms
Research Potential
Key data collected at the site include:
Rainfall trends
Soil health metrics (in partnership with ECOWAS)
Crop productivity
Groundwater infiltration in bocage landscapes is highlighted as a research gap by discussion with the site coordinator.
Zaï technique
Photo of the water collection basin
Fallow used for grazing.
Impact on Local Communities
The Guiè farm, now fully restored from degraded land is more than 100 hectares and supports 23 farming households livelihoods. Thanks to TERRE VERTE’s approach, farming families benefit from:
Increased food security;
Sustainable income sources;
Monthly community training and knowledge-sharing;
The AZN Association, which manages the pilot site, extends its mission beyond agriculture to encompass education, healthcare, and reforestation initiatives.
Looking Forward: WASCAL × TERRE VERTE and its partners Collaboration
The visit concluded a strong opportunity of mutual interest in formalizing research partnerships. With its real-world and field-tested innovations, AZN Association/TERRE VERTE offer WASCAL a living lab for conducting research on land restoration, agroecology, and community resilience. This is an unique opportunity of collaboration on which both institutions should leverage on. Together, we aim to translate scientific knowledge into action, empowering local communities and securing the future of West Africa’s fragile ecosystems.
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