Evaluating Ecosystem Resilience to Dryland Degradation in the Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands, Jigawa State

The Hadejia-Nguru wetlands in Jigawa State represent one of the most economically significant semi-arid wetland ecosystems in Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone, supporting over one million people's livelihoods through recession agriculture, fisheries, and dry season grazing, yet ongoing dryland degradation, upstream water diversion, and climate variability are progressively reducing the resilience of this system to sustain its ecological and social functions. This study evaluates the ecosystem resilience of the Hadejia-Nguru wetlands using a combination of remote sensing time-series analysis, hydrological trend analysis, and community livelihood vulnerability assessment. Annual flood inundation extent was mapped from Sentinel-1 SAR imagery across eight flood seasons from 2016 to 2023 to assess hydrological variability and trend. NDVI time-series analysis quantified vegetation productivity trends and recovery rates following drought stress events. Ecological resilience indicators including vegetation recovery speed, biodiversity response curves, and soil organic carbon were assessed at 30 sampling locations. Community livelihood surveys with 320 farming, fishing, and pastoralist households examined adaptive responses to reduced wetland productivity and the effectiveness of current adaptation measures. Results confirm a statistically significant declining trend in annual flood extent (Sen slope = -1.8 percent per year) driven by both reduced Hadejia River discharge and intensified upstream irrigation diversions. Vegetation recovery speed after drought events has slowed by an estimated 22 percent over the study period, indicating reduced ecosystem resilience. Livelihood surveys document increasing food insecurity and out-migration from wetland communities as recession farming areas contract. The study recommends negotiated upstream water allocation frameworks and wetland rehabilitation investments. Keywords: ecosystem resilience, Hadejia-Nguru wetlands, Jigawa State, North West Nigeria, dryland.