BAMGIRE project

The BAMGIRE project (2015 – 2020) focuses on Integrated Water Resource Management in the Inner Niger Delta and the Upper Niger Basin. BAMGIRE is managed by Wetlands International Mali (WIM) and is financially supported by the Dutch Embassy in Bamako.

Project results

In this section of the Observatoire, overviews are given of the main project deliverables such as reports, publications, and websites. The diagram below shows the place of the different project components and deliverables in the entire BAMGIRE framework, and how these components feed into the IWRM process.

Flooding model and OPIDIN

The flood in the Inner Niger Delta is forecasted each flooding season using the tool OPIDIN. OPIDIN stands for ‘Outil de Prédiction des inondations dans le Delta Intérieur du Niger’ and is based on a model in which flooding characteristics are related to water levels in the delta. As part of BAMGIRE, a new flooding model has been developed based on a large number of satellite images. This flooding model brings a more detailed understanding of the inundation patterns in the Inner Niger Delta.

Output BamGire:

New OPIDIN model and website: https://www.opidin.org/en
Davids, L., M. Bekkema, L. Zwarts and I. Grigoras, 2018. An improved spatial flooding model of the Inner Niger Delta,A&W-report 2529, Altenburg & Wymenga ecologisch onderzoek, Feanwâlden.

Hydrological studies

E-flows

E-flows describe the volume and quality of water that is required to support the river/floodplain ecosystem so that it can continue to provide benefits to people. The project carried out has been unique in that it has linked river flows and protection of the ecosystem to livelihoods on a major floodplain. The results showed that the existing developments, and even the future developments, will not have a substantial impact on the ecosystem to the extent that there will be risks to livelihoods and the ecosystem itself HOWEVER it will be necessary for the upstream dams to provide water to the floodplain during the dry season. If this is not done, then there will be risk of the ecosystem collapsing.

Output BamGire:

Dickens, C., O’brien, G., Stassen, R., Eriyagama, N., Kleynhans, M., Rowntree, K., Graham, M., Ross-Gillespie, V., Mackenzie, J., Wymenga, E., Mapedza, E., Burnet, M, Desai. M. and J. Hean. (2020) E-flows for the Upper Niger river and Inner Niger Delta: Synthesis Report Version 2. Report by the International Water Management Institute for Wetlands International. CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 201p.
Dickens, C., O’brien, G., Stassen, R., Eriyagama, N., Kleynhans, M., Rowntree, K., Graham, M., Ross-Gillespie. (2018) E-flows for the Upper and Inner Niger Delta: Specialist Reports Hydrology, Hydraulics, Geomorphology & Water Quality. Report by the International Water Management Institute for Wetlands International. CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 210p.
Dickens, C., O’brien, G., Stassen, R., Eriyagama, N., Kleynhans, M., Rowntree, K., Graham, M., Ross-Gillespie, V., Mackenzie, J., Wymenga, E., Mapedza, E., Burnet, M, Desai. M. and J. Hean. (2020) E-flows for the Upper Niger river and Inner Niger Delta: Specialist Response Report for Vegetation, Fish, Invertebrates & Birds. Report by the International Water Management Institute for Wetlands International. CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 104p

Hydrological modelling

The University of Ottawa has worked on the development of a SWAT-model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) of the Upper Niger Basin and a hydrodynamic model of the Inner Niger Delta. In addition, various other modelling activities have been done, as well as training of the Malian Hydrometric Services on hydrological modelling.

Output BamGire:

Seidou, O., M.D.M. Haque & F. Maiga 2020. Development of models and tools in support of the BamGire program. Final Report, University of Ottawa.
Haque, M.D.M., O. Seidou, A. Mohammadian, A. Gado Djibo, S. Liersch, S. Fournet, S. Karam, E.D.P. Perera & M. Kleynhans 2019. Improving the accuracy of hydrodynamic simulations in data scarce environments using Bayesian model averaging: a case study of the Inner Niger Delta, Mali, West Africa. Water 11, https://doi.org/10.3390/w11091766.
Haque, M.D.M., O. Seidou, A. Mohammadian & K. Ba 2020. Effect of rating curve hysteresis on flood extent simulation with a 2D hydrodynamic model: a case study of the Inner Niger Delta, Mali, West Africa.
Haque, M.D.M., O. Seidou, A. Mohammadian & A. Gado Djibo 2020. Development of an improved relationship between water levels and flooded areas in the Inner Niger Delta, Mali, West Africa.
Haque. M.D.M. 2020. Modeling flood extent of a large wetland in a data-scarce region using hydrodynamic and empirical models. PhD thesis, University of Ottawa.
Maiga, F. 2019. Hydrological impacts of irrigation schemes and dams operation in the Upper Niger Basin and Inner Niger Delta. MSc thesis, University of Ottawa.

Water resources management

The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) has assessed the feasibility of land and water management plans (reservoir operations, new reservoirs, irrigation extension etc.) in the Upper Niger and Bani River basins in West Africa, including the likely impacts of management scenarios on the inflows into the Inner Niger Delta

Output BamGire:

Liersch, S., S. Fournet, H. Koch, A. Gado Djibo, J. Reinhardt, J. Kortlandt, F. van Weert, O. Seidou, E. Klop, C. Baker & F.F. Hatterman 2019. Water resources planning in the Upper Niger River Basin: are there gaps between water demand and supply? Journal of Hydrology: regional studies 21: 176-194.
Liersch, S., S. Fournet & H. Koch 2019. Assessment of Climate Change and Water Management Impacts on the Water Resources in the Upper Niger and Bani River basins. Final Report, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

Ecosystem services

The Inner Niger Delta provides vital ecosystem services to local communities, in the form of agriculture, livestock and fishing opportunities. Upstream investments in water management strongly affect the provisioning of ecosystem services in the Inner Niger Delta. Within the BAMGIRE programme historic data on ecosystem services provisioning was combined with the output of hydrological models to create insight in the relationship between the flooding regime and the provisioning of ecosystem services in the Inner Niger Delta. These relationships could consequently be tested under alternative scenarios to identify the effects of changes in water management in the Upper Niger Basin on ecosystem services and the communities that depend on them. The results of the scenario analysis indicate that the expansion of Office du Niger and the construction of the Fomi/Moussako dam reduce the resilience of the Inner Niger Delta and its population to climatic changes and reduce the livelihood opportunities of local communities.

Output BamGire:

Schep, S.W., Palacios, E., Polaszek, T.R., Diallo, M., Zongo, B. Van Beukering, P.J.H. 2019. Ecosystem services in the Inner Niger Delta under different Water Resources Management Scenarios. Wolfs Company, Amsterdam. Commissioned by Wetlands International.

Ecology and Biodiversity

Within the framework of the BAMGIRE program, key areas for biodiversity have been identified to prioritize and stimulate effective management of the area as a whole. This analysis has been done for both the Inner Niger Delta and the upstream areas in the Guinean part of the basin. This information could be used to enforce the protection of specific sites or species in the basin. The results of this BAMGIRE component have been published as a series of reports: the first describes the methodology and approach for defining hotspots, the second report presents the results for the Inner Niger Delta, and the third report focuses on hotspots in the Guinean part of the basin.

Output BamGire:

Klop, E., M. Sikkema, M. Diawara, A. Gado 2019. Ecological hotspots and land use patterns in the Upper Niger Basin, Guinea. A&W-report 2501. Altenburg & Wymenga ecologisch onderzoek, Feanwâlden / Wetlands International, Bamako.
Wymenga, E., M.L. Diawara, F. Hoekema & W. Bijkerk 2017. Ecological hotspots in the Upper Niger Basin and Inner Niger Delta. A&W-report 2253a. Altenburg & Wymenga ecological consultants, Feanwâlden.
Wymenga, E., M.L. Diawara, W. Bijkerk, F. Hoekema & J. van der Kamp 2017. Ecological hotspots in the Upper Niger Basin and Inner Niger Delta. II. Existing data and information. A&W-report 2253b. Altenburg & Wymenga ecological consultants, Feanwâlden.