Desertification in reverse? Observations from northern Burkina Faso
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Desertification in reverse? Observations from northern Burkina Faso. / Rasmussen, Kjeld; Fog, Bjarne; Madsen, Jens E.
In: Global Environmental Change, Vol. 11, No. 4, 01.12.2001, p. 271-282.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Desertification in reverse? Observations from northern Burkina Faso
AU - Rasmussen, Kjeld
AU - Fog, Bjarne
AU - Madsen, Jens E.
PY - 2001/12/1
Y1 - 2001/12/1
N2 - The idea of degradation of arid and semi-arid lands, often termed desertification in its irreversible form, due to human impact and/or climatic change has been much debated since the mid-1970s. From the time of the United Nation's Conference On Desertification in Nairobi, 1976, certain areas of northern Burkina Faso have been pointed out as examples of severe desertification. Several studies demonstrated that revitalization of a series of E-W oriented fossille dunes in the Oudalan province was ongoing. The present study includes an analysis of the trends of vegetation development in the region, covering the period 1955 to 1994, with emphasis on the fossile dunes. It is demonstrated that desertification and revitalization of dunes were phenomena associated with the period between the early 1970s and the mid-1980s, and that the decline in vegetation cover on the dunes seems to have been reversed in recent years. The analysis is based upon time series of aerial photos and satellite images, field studies of vegetation, interviews with local people and review of relevant literature. The findings are discussed with reference to the debate concerning desertification and land degradation, as well as to the current revisions of the 'range management paradigm'. The observations indicate that the environmental history of the region is complex and cannot be boiled down to 'human-induced irreversible degradation'. Rather they support the idea of semi-arid cultural landscapes undergoing constant change in response to both human impact and climatic trends and fluctuations.
AB - The idea of degradation of arid and semi-arid lands, often termed desertification in its irreversible form, due to human impact and/or climatic change has been much debated since the mid-1970s. From the time of the United Nation's Conference On Desertification in Nairobi, 1976, certain areas of northern Burkina Faso have been pointed out as examples of severe desertification. Several studies demonstrated that revitalization of a series of E-W oriented fossille dunes in the Oudalan province was ongoing. The present study includes an analysis of the trends of vegetation development in the region, covering the period 1955 to 1994, with emphasis on the fossile dunes. It is demonstrated that desertification and revitalization of dunes were phenomena associated with the period between the early 1970s and the mid-1980s, and that the decline in vegetation cover on the dunes seems to have been reversed in recent years. The analysis is based upon time series of aerial photos and satellite images, field studies of vegetation, interviews with local people and review of relevant literature. The findings are discussed with reference to the debate concerning desertification and land degradation, as well as to the current revisions of the 'range management paradigm'. The observations indicate that the environmental history of the region is complex and cannot be boiled down to 'human-induced irreversible degradation'. Rather they support the idea of semi-arid cultural landscapes undergoing constant change in response to both human impact and climatic trends and fluctuations.
KW - Burkina Faso
KW - Desertification
KW - Land degradation
KW - Remote sensing
KW - Vegetation change
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035662537&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0959-3780(01)00005-X
DO - 10.1016/S0959-3780(01)00005-X
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:0035662537
VL - 11
SP - 271
EP - 282
JO - Global Environmental Change
JF - Global Environmental Change
SN - 0959-3780
IS - 4
ER -
ID: 225762457