How do you personally and professionally relate to water and to space technologies?
As a water resources management professional, I work on ecosystem conservation, irrigation systems, and climate resilience. My expertise includes removing invasive aquatic plants from water reservoirs, restoring degraded landscapes (gullies), and reforesting watersheds to improve water retention. I have also used geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing for flood forecasting, mapping irrigated areas, and monitoring water bodies. In particular, I contributed to the study of the 2024 Hérédougou floods in Burkina Faso, which disrupted National Road No. 1. Space technologies, particularly satellite imagery, enhance my ability to observe water dynamics, assess land-use changes, and inform sustainable water management strategies. Professionally, I integrate AI-based approaches with remote sensing to protect water reservoirs from invasive aquatic plants and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Personally, water is central to my environmental preservation mission, while space technologies provide valuable tools to analyze, predict, and develop solutions to water-related challenges in Burkina Faso and beyond. It is through the use of these tools that my initiatives have been internationally recognized.
What motivated you to pursue a bachelor’s degree in water resource management?
I pursued a bachelor’s degree in water resource management because of my deep passion for protecting precious natural resources. Water is life, and I have always been driven by the desire to contribute to its sustainable management and ensure access for communities. When I joined the Ministry in 2021, a senior colleague told me, “You have the noblest profession in the world, protecting water and providing it to people. Every reservoir you safeguard brings blessings from countless beneficiaries.” These words resonated with me and reinforced my commitment to this field. Witnessing the impact of water scarcity and pollution on both people and ecosystems further motivated me to develop innovative and sustainable solutions. By choosing this path, I aim to make a tangible difference in water conservation, ecosystem restoration, and equitable access, ensuring that water remains a source of life and prosperity for present and future generations.
Can you tell us about your current position as a Water and Environment Specialist at the General Office of Agro-Pastoral Development and Irrigation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal and Fisheries Resources of Burkina Faso?
In my current position at the Department of Hydro-Agricultural Development, I am responsible for the planning and management of irrigated areas and rice-growing lowlands. My work includes protecting dams used for irrigation, integrating innovations into hydraulic infrastructure development, and ensuring the sustainability of hydro-agricultural systems. I also use remote sensing technologies to improve the performance of irrigated areas and rice paddies, thereby optimizing water use and productivity. Through these efforts, I contribute to improving agricultural resilience, ensuring food security, and promoting sustainable water management practices in Burkina Faso's agro-pastoral sector.
What other relevant institutions exist in Burkina Faso, that deal with Water management, ecosystem preservation, climate change and related topics, and based on your experience, how well do they work together?
In Burkina Faso, several key institutions are involved in water management, ecosystem preservation, and climate change adaptation. These include the General Office of Water Resources (DGRE), responsible for water governance; the five water agencies, which manage watersheds, water protection, and ecosystem conservation; and the General Office of Hydraulic Infrastructure (DGIH), which oversees and implements hydraulic infrastructure (dams and others). The Permanent Secretariat for Sustainable Development (SP/CNDD) coordinates climate policies, while the General Office for Environmental Preservation (DGPE) focuses on ecosystem conservation and climate change mitigation. The General Office of Agro-pastoral Development and Irrigation (DGADI) promotes irrigation and sustainable agriculture, and the Burkina Faso Green Climate Fund mobilizes funding to combat climate change. In my experience, these institutions share common goals, and through invitations to meetings and training workshops, synergies, particularly in terms of data sharing, policy implementation, and joint projects, are improved. Furthermore, these actions strengthen collaborative governance, inter-institutional coordination and ensure water security, climate resilience, and environmental sustainability.
Thinking of water resource management and climate change, what do you see as the key issues that need to be addressed in Burkina Faso and globally before it is too late?
Water resource management and climate change pose major challenges in Burkina Faso and around the world, requiring urgent action. In Burkina Faso, the main problems are water scarcity due to prolonged droughts, watershed degradation, water body pollution, and water evaporation affecting irrigation systems, threatening food security. Furthermore, climate change is intensifying extreme weather events such as floods and desertification, exacerbating water stress and ecosystem loss. Globally, overexploitation of groundwater, dwindling freshwater reserves, pollution, and inadequate climate change adaptation strategies are putting billions of people at risk. Urgent measures include promoting sustainable water management, investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, enhancing reforestation, and adopting innovative solutions such as AI monitoring, remote sensing, and nature-based approaches. Strengthening policies, improving cross-sectoral collaboration, and increasing climate finance are essential to ensure long-term water security and ecosystem preservation. Without immediate action, the growing water crisis and climate instability will have serious repercussions for livelihoods, biodiversity, and global sustainable development efforts, making it imperative to implement proactive solutions before it is too late.
Could you tell us more about your project “AI-Driven Strategies for the Management of Invasive Aquatic Plants in Water Reservoirs of Burkina Faso”?
My project, “AI-Driven Strategies for the Management of Invasive Aquatic Plants in Water Reservoirs of Burkina Faso,” aims to leverage Artificial Intelligence (Machine Learning and Deep Learning) and remote sensing data to classify, predict, and optimize the removal of invasive plants. The approach integrates community involvement through traditional and nature-based extraction techniques (Woourbo) led by local communities by organizing the collective manual removal of invasive plants from water bodies, called "SoaSoagha," fostering local engagement. Additionally, the project embraces circular economy principles by transforming extracted plants into organic compost, biogas, and biochar, promoting sustainability and resource efficiency. In 2023 at Cascades Water Agency, I already worked on this issue but without integrating AI-driven innovations such as the automatic detection and classification of invasive plants, prediction of the spread of aquatic plants, real-time monitoring with drones and satellites, and extraction optimization. This new approach enhances efficiency, improves ecosystem restoration, and supports climate resilience while empowering local communities with sustainable solutions.
Can you share more insights into how AI is used for water resource management and environmental preservation, and elaborate a bit more on the actual algorithms and tools used?
AI is playing a transformative role in water resource management and environmental conservation by enabling accurate monitoring through algorithms that detect specific characteristics such as the shape, size, density, and distribution of plants in a water body, all defined as targeted monitoring parameters, forecasting, and intervention optimization. Machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) algorithms, such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and random forests, analyze satellite images, remote sensing images, and drone data to detect and classify invasive aquatic plants such as water hyacinth. Image segmentation algorithms (e.g., U-Net, Mask R-CNN) are particularly suited to identifying and segmenting these plants, contributing to predictive modeling and optimizing extraction planning.
For erosion and gully monitoring, camera-equipped drones use supervised learning algorithms such as support vector machines (SVMs) to detect high-risk areas. Linear and logistic regression models predict erosion trends, while recurrent neural networks (RNNs) analyze historical rainfall and land use data to predict long-term erosion trends. Satellite and remote sensing images can also be used for erosion monitoring and prediction.
In reforestation efforts, clustering algorithms (e.g., K-means) help identify the most vulnerable deforested areas requiring intervention. Random Forest algorithms help select the most suitable tree species for reforestation by analyzing soil conditions, climate, and topography.
These AI-based approaches improve water conservation, prevent environmental degradation, and optimize decision-making, making them essential tools for climate resilience and sustainable ecosystem management in Burkina Faso and beyond.
How do you integrate remote sensing into your work?
I integrate remote sensing into my work, using satellite imagery and drone data to monitor and gather information on water resources, irrigation systems, and environmental changes. In the management of irrigated areas and rice lowlands, I use remote sensing to assess vegetation health, water distribution, and soil moisture levels, thus ensuring efficient water use. For ecosystem conservation, I analyze satellite data to track deforestation, wetland degradation, gully extent, and the spread of invasive aquatic plants in reservoirs.
For flood forecasting and erosion monitoring, I use remote sensing through satellite imagery combined with GIS tools to map risk areas and analyze terrain elevation variations. This helps identify vulnerable areas, optimize reforestation efforts, and mitigate land degradation. I also use remote sensing to assess the condition of dams, detect sedimentation, and evaluate water levels in reservoirs.
You published the paper "Enhancing Water Management through Stakeholder Engagement and Traditional Knowledge Integration in Natural-Based Solutions”, can you share some of the key insights gained from your exchange with keepers of traditional knowledge that are in line with your scholarly education in water management and some that were news to you and eye opening?
In my article, "Enhancing Water Management through Stakeholder Engagement and Traditional Knowledge Integration in Natural-Based Solutions," I explored the relevance of Burkina Faso's traditional knowledge to modern water management. The SoaSoagha (collective work) system promotes community-based water conservation, reflecting the participatory governance of scientific approaches. Traditional rainwater harvesting, floodplain management, boulsi (traditional wells), and soussous (small earthen dams) effectively manage water resources, complementing hydrological models. The use of sacred forests and customary water rights to regulate access and preserve ecosystems was a revelation. There are also traditional sacrifices made at water sources and awareness-raising (saaglsé) that help combat water source pollution. These observations highlight how Indigenous practices, deeply rooted in sustainability, can enhance science-based strategies for climate resilience and sustainable water management.
What is your favourite aggregate state of water?
My favorite aggregate state of water is liquid water because it plays a vital role in our daily lives, ecosystems, and the environment. As a water and environment specialist, I deeply value my ability to nourish ecosystems, support agriculture, and provide clean drinking water to communities. However, the versatility of liquid water, whether present in rivers, lakes, or reservoirs, makes it essential to sustaining life and facilitating human activities.
