The Niger River is one of the main environmental crossroads on the African continent and a major source of fresh water south of the Sahara. After having for a long time been managed in a harmonious and balanced way according to its main natural functions and capacities, the river has come under pressure from new centers of activity and use for the past few decades. This is disrupting the very nature, structure, and function of its ecosystems. The Niger Basin Initiative (NBI) is a joint environmental venture between the WWF, Wetlands International, and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation. This program is based on a strategic approach aimed at guarantying rational management and preservation of fresh water ecosystems and bio-diversity in the Niger River Basin. For it is indeed one of the main environmental crossroads on the African continent, as well as one of the major sources of fresh water South of the Sahara.