Soil and Water Conservation in Burkina Faso, West Africa

Clement Nyamekye, Michael Thiel, Sarah Schönbrodt-Stitt, Benewinde J.-B. Zoungrana and Leonard K. Amekudzi
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Clement Nyamekye: WASCAL Graduate Research Programme on Climate Change and Land Use, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office Box PMP, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
Michael Thiel: Department of Remote Sensing, Institute of Geography and Geology, University of Würzburg, Oswald-Külpe-Weg 86, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
Sarah Schönbrodt-Stitt: Department of Remote Sensing, Institute of Geography and Geology, University of Würzburg, Oswald-Külpe-Weg 86, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
Benewinde J.-B. Zoungrana: West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use, Avenue Mouammar Kadhafi, 06 BP 9507 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Leonard K. Amekudzi: Department of Physics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post Office Box PMB, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 9, 1-24

Abstract: Inadequate land management and agricultural activities have largely resulted in land degradation in Burkina Faso. The nationwide governmental and institutional driven implementation and adoption of soil and water conservation measures (SWCM) since the early 1960s, however, is expected to successively slow down the degradation process and to increase the agricultural output. Even though relevant measures have been taken, only a few studies have been conducted to quantify their effect, for instance, on soil erosion and environmental restoration. In addition, a comprehensive summary of initiatives, implementation strategies, and eventually region-specific requirements for adopting different SWCM is missing. The present study therefore aims to review the different SWCM in Burkina Faso and implementation programs, as well as to provide information on their effects on environmental restoration and agricultural productivity. This was achieved by considering over 143 studies focusing on Burkina Faso’s experience and research progress in areas of SWCM and soil erosion. SWCM in Burkina Faso have largely resulted in an increase in agricultural productivity and improvement in food security. Finally, this study aims at supporting the country’s informed decision-making for extending already existing SWCM and for deriving further implementation strategies.

Keywords: soil and water conservation; environmental degradation; agricultural productivity; food security; soil erosion; Burkina Faso (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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