Deforestation and forest degradation in southern Burkina Faso : understanding the drivers of change and options for revegetation

Tropical deforestation and forest degradation (DD) contribute approximately 15% of the annual global anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, they are considered the main emissions sources in most developing countries. Despite the potentials of forest and tree plantations to mitigate the effects of climate change through carbon sequestration, DD still remains a challenge in Africa. Globally, the forests of Africa are the most depleted of all tropical regions, with only 30% of historical forest area still remaining. In addition, Africa s complexity in terms of its geography, politics, socioculture, economy, institutions etc. is an indication of why Africa has defied all simple solutions in addressing DD: a phenomenon considered location- and situation-specific. The biophysical setting of Burkina Faso exposes the central and northern region to drought and desertification. Such conditions have caused human migration to the southwestern regions, which offer better opportunities for rain-fed agriculture, but also experiences the highest rates of deforestation. On the other hand, the ongoing regreening process in the Sahel through tree planting and assisted natural regeneration of indigenous tree species is a signal for regrowth and revegetation. This study contributes to understanding the drivers of DD in four adjacent village communities in the Ziro province, southern Burkina Faso in the light of the forest transition theory. Specifically, this study assesses the drivers of DD at the farm/forest level and also identifies options for regrowth/revegetation. This dissertation consists of four articles (studies I, II, III, and IV). Studies I and II refer to stage two of the forest transition curve (forest frontier) while studies III and IV refer to stage four of the curve (forest/plantations/agricultural mosaics). Various methods were used during data collection, including interviews with key informants, focus group discussions (FGDs), two hundred household interviews (studies I, II, and III), gathering a list of local botanical knowledge from 48 participants (study IV), and a field survey. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used in analyzing the data. Low agricultural production expressed in the sizes (areas) and ages of farms together with land tenure insecurity were found to lead to increased deforestation. Results suggested that a 10% increase in farm size would result in a 4% increase in annual deforestation (study I). Furthermore, results in study II indicated that non-poor and fairly poor farmers contributed more towards activities considered environmentally degrading, such as deforestation, overgrazing etc., than the poorest farmers. On the other hand, the adoption of sustainable land management practices was relatively low among the poorest farmers. Tree planters were mainly farmers who held large and old farm areas, were literate and relatively wealthy, held favorable attitudes towards tree planting, and had participated in a farmers group for several years (study III). Local knowledge of tree species was found to be unevenly distributed in relation to gender, age, ethnic group, and location. Plant species assigned relatively high use-values for livelihood include Adansonia digitata, Parkia biglobosa, Vitellaria paradoxa, and Balanites aegyptiaca. On the other hand, Adansonia digitata, Tamarindus indica, and Ficus thonningii were considered more important for environmental protection (study IV). The dissertation concludes that tenure insecurity and low agricultural production contribute to DD at the farm/forest level on the one hand while tree plantations, land management practices, such as fallow, zai pits (a traditional soil and water conservation technique), and assisted natural regeneration of indigenous tree species are important activities promoting regrowth/revegetation.Tropiikin metsien hävitys ja rappeutuminen aiheuttaa noin 15% kaikista ihmisen aiheuttamista kasvihuonekaasupäästöistä maailmassa. Kuitenkin useimmissa kehitysmaissa metsien hävitys ja rappeutuminen on merkittävin päästölähde. Vaikkakin metsät voivat hillitä ilmastonmuutosta sitomalla hiiltä ilmakehästä, metsien hävitys ja rappeutuminen on vielä merkittävä haaste Afrikassa. Globaalisti Afrikan metsien hävitys on merkittävintä sillä vain 30 % alkuperäisistä metsistä on jäljellä. Lisäksi Afrikan maantieteellisen, poliittisen, sosiokulttuurisen, taloudellisen, institutionaalisen ym. vaihtelun takia yksinkertaiset ratkaisut metsänhävityksen ja rappeutumisen estämiseksi eivät ole toimineet ilman paikka- ja tilannnekohtaisuuden ymmärrystä. Burkina Fason keski- ja pohjoisosat altistuvat kuivuudelle ja aavioitumiselle. Nämä haasteet ovat aiheuttaneet siirtolaisuutta maan lounaisosiin, jossa olosuhteet kastelusta riippumattomalle maataloudelle ovat paremmat, mutta jossa myös metsän hävitys on nopeinta. Toisaalta, metsitys istuttamalla ja tukemalla luontaista uudistumista pohjoisen Sahelin alueella on johtanut kasvillisuuden palautumiseen. Tämä tutkimus auttaa ymmärtämään transitioteorian kautta metsien hävityksen ja rappeutumisen syitä neljän vierekkäisen kylän alueella eteläisessä Burkina Fasossa. Tutkimus selvittää metsien hävityksen ja rappautumisen syitä maatilan ja metsän mittakaavassa ja kartoittaa mahdollisuuksia kasvillisuuden palauttamiseen. Väitöskirja koostuu neljästä artikkelista (tutkimukset I, II, III ja IV). Tutkimukset I ja II liittyvät transitiokäyrän vaiheeseen kaksi (lähes koskematon metsä), kun taas tutkimukset III ja IV liittyvät vaiheeseen neljä (metsien, plantaasien ja maatalousmaan mosaiikki). Tutkimuksessa käytettiin avainhenkilöiden haastatteluja, ryhmäkeskusteluja, kaksisataa haastattelua kotitalouksille (tutkimukset I, II ja III), paikallisen kasvitieteellisen informaation keruuta 48 osallistujalta (tutkimus IV) ja maastotutkimusta. Sekä kvantitatiivisia että kvalitatiivisia menetelmiä käytettiin aineiston analysointiin. Maanhallinnan epävarmuus, maatalouden heikko tuotto ilmaistuna tilojen kokoina ja ikinä johtivat lisääntyneeseen metsän hävitykseen. Tuloksien mukaan kymmenen prosentin lisäys lisäsi metsänhävitystä neljä prosenttia (tutkimus I). Lisäksi tutkimuksen II mukaan varakkaat ja jonkin verran köyhät maanviljelijät aiheuttivat enemmän ympäristöä tuhoavaa toimintaa kuten metsän hävitystä, ylilaidunnusta ym., kuin kaikkein köyhimmät maanviljelijät. Toisaalta kuitenkin, kestäviä maankäyttömenetelmiä käytti vain harvat kaikkein köyhimmistä maanviljelijöistä. Puiden istuttajien tilat olivat yleensä suuria ja vanhoja, he olivat lukutaitoisia ja varakkaita, heillä oli myönteisiä ajatuksia puiden istutukseen liittyen ja he olivat osallistuneet maanviljelijöiden ryhmätyöskentelyyn vuosien ajan (tutkimus III). Tietämys puulajeista oli epätasaisesti jakautunut suhteessa sukupuoleen, ikään, etniseen ryhmään ja paikkaan. Adansonia digitata, Parkia biglobosa, Vitellaria paradoxa ja Balanites aegyptiaca kuuluivat kasvilajeihin joilla katsottiin olevan paljon merkitystä ihmisten hyvinvoinnin kannalta. Toisaalta Adansonia digitata, Tamarindus indica ja Ficus thonningii lajeja pidettiin tärkeämpinä ympäristönsuojelun kannalta. (tutkimus IV). Tämän väitöskirjan mukaan maanhallinnan epävarmuus ja maataloustuotannon heikkous lisäävät metsien hävitystä ja rappautumista maatilan tai metsän mittakaavassa. Toisaalta istutusmetsät, tietyt maankäytön tavat kuten kesannointi, zai-viljely (perinteinen menetelmä maaperän ja vesivarannon suojelemiseksi), alueelle alkuperäisten puulajien luontaisen uudistamisen tukeminen, ovat tärkeitä tapoja lisätä kasvillisuutta

Smallholders' Tree Planting Activity in the Ziro Province, Southern Burkina Faso : Impacts on Livelihood and Policy Implications

Climate variability and change significantly affect smallholder farmers' food security and livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa. Tree planting is one of the measures promoted by development programs to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Tree planting is also believed to positively contribute to livelihoods. This paper examines factors influencing smallholders' tree planting activities in four villages in the Ziro province, Southern Burkina Faso. Furthermore, it analyses the challenges encountered and willingness to continue tree planting under current tenure arrangements. The data was obtained through key informants, household interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations. Results indicate that the majority of farmers interviewed planted Mangifera indica (50%), Anacardium occidentale (32%) and Moringa oleifera (30%). In a number of trees planted, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Mangifera indica and Anacardium occidentale dominated. Tree planters were mainly farmers who held large and old farm areas, were literate and relatively wealthy, had favorable attitudes toward tree planting, and with considerable years of participation in a farmers' group. The main reasons for planting trees included income generation from the sale of tree products, access to markets and local support for tree planting. Preference for agriculture, tenure insecurity and lack of sufficient land were the main reasons cited for not planting trees. Farm households that were relatively poor, had smaller workforces and smaller farm sizes were not willing to continue tree planting. To effectively engage farmers in tree planting and to make it more attractive, policies are needed that address tenure insecurity for migrants, enable better access to markets, and support fair pricing structures for wood and other tree resources.Peer reviewe

Poverty and Environmental Degradation in Southern Burkina Faso: An Assessment Based on Participatory Methods

Peer reviewe

Smallholders’ Tree Planting Activity in the Ziro Province, Southern Burkina Faso: Impacts on Livelihood and Policy Implications

Climate variability and change significantly affect smallholder farmers’ food security and livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa. Tree planting is one of the measures promoted by development programs to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Tree planting is also believed to positively contribute to livelihoods. This paper examines factors influencing smallholders’ tree planting activities in four villages in the Ziro province, Southern Burkina Faso. Furthermore, it analyses the challenges encountered and willingness to continue tree planting under current tenure arrangements. The data was obtained through key informants, household interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations. Results indicate that the majority of farmers interviewed planted Mangifera indica (50%), Anacardium occidentale (32%) and Moringa oleifera (30%). In a number of trees planted, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Mangifera indica and Anacardium occidentale dominated. Tree planters were mainly farmers who held large and old farm areas, were literate and relatively wealthy, had favorable attitudes toward tree planting, and with considerable years of participation in a farmers’ group. The main reasons for planting trees included income generation from the sale of tree products, access to markets and local support for tree planting. Preference for agriculture, tenure insecurity and lack of sufficient land were the main reasons cited for not planting trees. Farm households that were relatively poor, had smaller workforces and smaller farm sizes were not willing to continue tree planting. To effectively engage farmers in tree planting and to make it more attractive, policies are needed that address tenure insecurity for migrants, enable better access to markets, and support fair pricing structures for wood and other tree resources

Local Governance Capacity Needs for Implementing Climate Change Adaptation in Seychelles: An Assessment Based on the Capital Approach

As a Small Island Developing State, Seychelles is disproportionately affected by climate change, and enhancing her adaptive capacity is a national priority. Identifying and integrating local capacity needs into policy measures can improve multilevel governance and the effective implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), given that local governments have contextual knowledge about their territories and the climate change challenges affecting them. Based on the Capital Approach Framework (CAF), this study carries out an analysis of local governance capacity needs for implementing climate change adaptation in Seychelles. Data were collected using two methods: (i) questionnaire-led interviews among twenty-four district administrators (DAs), and (ii) an interactive workshop involving thirty-one participants, of which twenty-six were DAs and five were members of the National Climate Change Committee. The CAF was measured in two ways: (i) through descriptive statistics such as frequencies based on interview data, and (ii) through the ranking of types of capital to assess their weightings across four categories using a consensus approach during the participatory workshop. The findings of this study indicate significant political, financial, and human resource capacity gaps, which collectively hinder local adaptation. The critical shortcomings identified include the low participation in national-level decision-making processes, the inability to access external funding sources, and the lack of technical know-how. Through a participatory approach involving the local government representatives and the National Climate Change Committee, ten recommendations for policy measures that can enhance the effectiveness of local governance in climate change adaptation were co-developed. Seven of these recommendations partly address issues related to political capital. These recommendations highlight that a siloed approach cannot effectively address the impacts of climate change. For example, one of the recommendations stated that land-use planning should be guided by location-specific vulnerabilities, as these differ across districts

Farmland in Amitie, Praslin Island, consists mainly of sandy soils.

Farmland in Amitie, Praslin Island, consists mainly of sandy soils.</p

Assessing the sustainability of fuelwood production and its potential impact on REDD+ in Burkina Faso

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Assessing the effectiveness of joint forest management in Southern Burkina Faso : A SWOT-AHP analysis

We analyzed the perceptions of resource persons from three stakeholder groups on the benefits, challenges and opportunities offered by joint forest management (JFM) in the Ziro province of Southern Burkina Faso. In other words, a strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) approach in combination with an analytic hierarchy process (AliP) was applied. Results reveal that resource persons of the three stakeholder groups perceive the positive aspects of JFM to outweigh the negative aspects. In addition, favorable institutional setup received the highest overall factor score for strength. Inadequate enforcement of the management plans is the weakness with the highest score and the overall priority score for weaknesses was highest for resource persons from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MESD). On the other hand, better community relations received the highest overall factor for opportunities while uncertainty in decision making at higher levels was perceived as the most important threat to JFM in the Ziro province of Southern Burkina Faso. Therefore, differences in views and addressing realities on the ground requires the participation of all stakeholders in the design, implementation and follow-up of JFM to arrive at a consensus that is capable of delivering the twin challenges of environmental protection and rural development.Peer reviewe