Dynamics of sudanian pastures: the case of Niassa pastoral zone in Burkina Faso

In Burkina Faso, as in other Sahelian countries, natural pastures are a key element in managing livestock productivity, as they are the main source of feed. This is why, after the droughts of 1970, the government of Burkina Faso created pastoral zones to boost livestock productivity. However, the results of this project remain unsatisfactory. This study therefore aims to assess pastoral resources by analysing the dynamics of pastoral landscapes in the Niassa pastoral zone. To this end, remote sensing and perception surveys of pastoralists were used. From 2000 to 2020, the dynamics of land use shifted away from grazing areas. Indeed, the rate of occupation of cropland rose from 15.35% in 2000 to 39.33% in 2020 and that of bare lands from 2.46% to 7.62% with a decrease of 46.95% in pastureland. This has a negative impact on pasture biomass production and herd management. Thus, 91% of the pastoralists surveyed perceive this dynamic through the low availability in quantity and quality of fodder resources. They believe that herbaceous species of high value to livestock are disappearing. They are Andropogon gayanus , Andropogon ascinodis and Vetiveria nigritana according to respectively to 83%, 80%, and 78% of respondents. These species have been replaced by less valuable or with low biomass production species such as Senna obtusifolia, Hyptis suaveolens, Loudetia togoensis , Microchloa indica and Zornia glochidiata according respectively to 100%, 90%, 90%, 95%, and 65% of respondents. According to respondents, the endangered woody species are Pterocarpus erinaceus (88.4%), Afzelia africana (64%), Bombax costatum (58%), Vitex doniana (55%) and Khaya senegalensis (55%). The reduction in pastureland, forage species and forage availability are indicative of the degradation of the pastoral zone. This is leading to a drop in livestock productivity and, consequently, the impoverishment of pastoralists and agropastoralists.