Is rural migration a threat to environmental sustainability in Southern Burkina Faso?

Abstract

There is growing evidence that population pressure on the land has become the most intractable problem in the developing countries where demand for food exceeds the food production capacity of the land. Southern Burkina Faso has experienced rapid population growth, mostly driven by immigration of farmers. This study was carried out in Sissili Province and used satellite images acquired over 31-year period, census and survey data to capture migration patterns and its impacts on land use change. Results showed that migrant population which accounted for only 3 per cent in the study area in 1976 shifted to 57 per cent in 2007. Migrant people were using improved technology to progressively convert forest land to cropland. Cropland increased at an annualized rate of 0Á46 per cent to the detriment of the dense forest and woodland which decreased at 0Á57 per cent per annum. Population growth was highly correlated with increasing area of cropland (r 2 ¼ 0Á95, p ¼ 0Á014) and declining dense forest (r 2 ¼ 0Á78) and woodland (r 2 ¼ 0Á95) covers. It can be concluded that rural migration, driven by the relatively good soil and rainfall conditions in the recipient area, is accounted for deforestation in the study area. If rural migration is not checked, it will seriously degrade the environment.

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

“…For Parkia biglobosa and Vitellaria paradoxa, which grow through farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR), population increase resulting in land scarcity was identified as a driver of forest degradation. Two studies in Southern Burkina Faso identified similar causes for the decline of dry forests and degradation in Southern Burkina Faso [6,10].…”

“…Cotton cultivation is a common feature of the farming system in addition to livestock herding such as cattle, donkey, sheep and goats. The farm size varies amongst individual farmers ranging from 1 to10 ha [7,10]. The flora is dominated by perennial grass such as Andropogon gayanus Kunth, A. ascinodis C.B.…”

“…The annual deforestation rate for the southern region of Burkina Faso was estimated to be 0.96% per annum between 1986 and 2006 [6]. Conversion of forest and woodland to crop and rangeland [7], fuelwood extraction [8,9], over-exploitation, and unsustainable land management [10] have been identified as the main drivers of deforestation in the country.…”

“…Due to an increase in population through migration and natural population growth the demand for land is increasing and affecting livelihood management strategies in the region. Studies in Southern Burkina Faso found that conversion of forest to cropland affects both the sustainability of the environment [10], and the consumptive values collected from the forest [7].…”

Transitions in Land Use Architecture under Multiple Human Driving Forces in a Semi-Arid Zone

“…Southern Burkina Faso has experienced a rapid population increase since the 1980s resulting from a positive natural growth and more importantly from a large immigration of farmers from drought-affected areas of the northern and central regions of the country [19][20][21][22]. Prior to immigration, the southern provinces, namely Sissili, Ziro and Nahouri, were less populated and were naturally endowed with a significant stock of dry forest [23].…”