Natural resource governance in Niger's telecoupled oasis systems

West Africa’s rapid urbanization is challenging natural resource governance of its far distant rural hinterlands. This becomes visible in remote oases at the fringe of the Sahara Desert in northern Niger, which have gained access to food markets of growing coastal cities. Farmers have shifted from subsistence-oriented to large scale market production for urban consumers. However, the expansion and intensification of agricultural land use is heavily constrained by the availability of fertile land and quality irrigation water. The oasis of Timia in the Aϊr Mountains of northern Niger is a regionally exceptional example for sustainable agricultural intensification meeting market demands and fulfilling subsistence needs. Our study investigates Timia as a model for the successful adaptation of rural hinterlands to an urbanizing world through the effective governance of common natural resources. We combined GIS-based land use change and above ground water flow analyzes with agricultural production records, 98 surveys with oasis farmers, GPS tracks of pastoral activities, and well measurements. The results indicate agricultural land intensification in the oasis through agroforestry systems, with the addition of 12,000 citrus fruit trees between 1980 and 2023. Local social-ecological constraints limit land expansion and groundwater exploitation. The example shows that sustainable rural transformation and the creation of new livelihood opportunities may benefit from diversified crop-livestock production and niche market farming of high-value products. Social consensus appears to be a key prerequisite for fostering efficient, decentralized and community-led management of scarce natural resources. Investments in autonomous communities, knowledge building, access to infrastructure and technology minimize the need for policy interventions from central government bodies for sustainable development. • Transformation of Saharan oases as indicators of urbanization effects on remote rural regions. • Remote sensing analyzes combined with field data reveal changes in land use and groundwater usage. • Private land holdings grew from 61 ha to 136 ha, with 12,000 new fruit trees planted between 1955 and 2023. • Land expansion is restricted by limited groundwater reserves. • The sale of high-value niche products to urban markets generates income and secures livelihoods.