Desertification, Local Husbandry and Livelihoods in Sub-Sahara Africa

tanaka Ueru Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University

kuchikura Yukio Faculty of Regional Studies, Gifu University shinjo Hitoshi Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University kobayashi Hirohide Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University nakamura Hiroshi Global Environmental Forum miura Rei-ichi Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University

Semi-arid Sub-Sahara Africa is known as a front of desertification. The area is home to numerous nomadic and cultivating peoples, each employing various livelihood strategies and husbandry practices. Set in the West African Sahel of Niger and Burkina Faso, this project investigates the socio-ecological conditions of several peoples and their local husbandry systems and livelihood strategies, the processes of their change, and their adaptability to new techniques. Based on this deepened understanding, we will describe practical and feasible techniques to cope with desertification and guide rural development assistance that improves household economy and livelihood security.

Research Objectives and Outline

Poverty and environmental degradation are serious problems in semi-arid Sub-Saharan Africa. In ratifying the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in 1994, the international community, including Japan, signaled its commitment to solve the problems related to desertification. Although desertification is a global concern, its prevention depends on human-scale activities and conscientious field work.

This project sets three objectives, as described below, with corresponding sub-topics. Dark bullets indicate emphasis in the FS period; open bullets indicate emphasis in Full Research.

A. Socio-ecological characteristics of semi-arid Sub-Saharan Africa

1. Livelihood and local husbandry systems ●
2. Significance of small-scaled livelihood activities on household economy ●
3. Architectural techniques and house environment of different ethnic groups ○
4. Soil fertility mechanism and human-soil interactions ○

B. Local husbandry systems and livelihood strategies of different ethnic groups in the Sahel

1. The “year of crisis” and coping activities for different peoples ●
2. Significance of seasonal and/or periodical migration laboring on livelihood security ○
3. Seasonal interactions of nomadic and cultivating peoples ○

C. Preventing desertification and assisting rural development

1. Comparison of the perception gaps between local people and outsiders regarding desertification ●
2. Adaptability of introduced techniques for desertification prevention and rural development ○
3. Adoption of introduced technique, using the case of the “petit-fallow system” ○
4. Rural development for prevention of desertification ○

Further studies

Our research emphasizes the topics which have received little attention, such as seasonal and/or periodical labor migration, interaction of livelihood activities among different peoples, significance of small- scale livelihood activities, indigenous dissemination channel of knowledge and techniques, and resilience to desertification and shocks. In sum, we reappraise the general state of socio-ecological knowledge of the Sahel and academic and practitioners' specific understandings of appropriate techniques for adoption.

Photo 1  Wind erosion in Niger

Figure 1  The petit-fallow system

Using a shifting “petit-fallow band” - a field area that is not sown or weeded—prevents wind erosion and improves crop yields.