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Re-greening of agrosystems in the Burkina Faso Sahel: greater drought resilience but falling woody plant diversity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2020

Wendpouiré Arnaud Zida Open the ORCID record for Wendpouiré Arnaud Zida [Opens in a new window] ,
Babou André Bationo  and
Jean-Philippe Waaub
Wendpouiré Arnaud Zida*
Affiliation:
Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Research, INERA, DEF, 04 BP 8645Ouagadougou 04, Burkina Faso Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Quebec in Montreal, CP 8888 succ. Centre-Ville, Montreal, H3C 3P8, Canada
Babou André Bationo
Affiliation:
Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Research, INERA, DEF, 04 BP 8645Ouagadougou 04, Burkina Faso
Jean-Philippe Waaub
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, GEIGER, GERAD, University of Quebec in Montreal, CP 8888 succ. Centre-Ville, Montreal, H3C 3P8, Canada
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Wendpouiré Arnaud Zida, Email: [email protected]
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Summary

Droughts and land degradation result in biodiversity and ecosystem service losses with serious implications for human wellbeing. The Sahel region has seen increased plant cover since the end of 1970s–1980s droughts, but understanding the nature and implications of this change remains a priority. This study aimed to assess changes in the woody floristic composition of re-greened agrosystems since the droughts in Burkina Faso. In 148 vegetation survey plots distributed across areas with increasing woody plant cover and those to some extent protected from exploitation, a total of 71 species from 51 genera and 23 families were identified. Compared to pre-drought flora, our measurements show a decline in the diversity and density of woody species. Combretaceae species and thorny species of the genera Acacia and Balanites, which are more tolerant of drought, were the most dominant, indicating a post-drought woody vegetation that is more resistant to water stress. The increased presence of food-producing species in agroforestry parks (cultivated fields with woody plants) seems to reflect the growing needs of the human population.

Keywords

biodiversitydroughtland degradationSahel re-greeningvegetation surveys
Type
Research Paper
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 47 , Issue 3 , September 2020 , pp. 174 - 181
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Foundation for Environmental Conservation

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