To determine the resilience of soil organic C and N pools during land degradation processes in a semi-arid landscape of West Africa, we compared the magnitude of soil organic C and N differences in bulk soil and aggregate fractions between contrasting types of land cover (degraded land and native land cover) and soil (Luvisols and Cambisols). We analyzed the following soil key indicators: CEC, soil respiration, C and N contents, and δ 13 C and δ 15 N signatures of soil organic C. The average CO 2 respired from native land cover was at least 82% higher than its value from degraded land cover and was significantly higher in Luvisols than in Cambisols. Likewise, the soil organic C and N contents in bulk soil were significantly affected by land cover and soil contrasts. The average C loss in bulk soil from degraded land cover was equivalent to 49% in Cambisols and 54% in Luvisols. In …