The Inner Niger Delta in Mali, West Africa, is a 3.000.000 hectare wetland consisting of flood plains, lakes, river branches and small flood forests. It is part of the 4.200 kilometres Niger river basin, which flows through 10 countries before discharging in the Atlantic Ocean. Classified as a Ramsar site in 2004, it is of extraordinary importance for a large range of water dependent plant and animal species. Recently, the Niger basin intensive use added to growing population and climate changes, among which severe droughts and their impacts, have had severe consequences on the status of the Niger River. In particular, the Inner Niger delta and its biodiversity, landscapes, key habitats and floodplains, has been affected.