Vulnerability to Climate Variability and Anthropogenic Actions in Burkina Faso: A Case Study of the Neighboring Communities of Dinderesso and Peni Classified Forest
Alphonse Maré David Millogo *
West African Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Graduate Research Program on Climate Change and Disaster Risks Management, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo. B.P. 1515. Lomé, Togo and Laboratory of Botany and Plant Ecology, Department of Botany, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo. B.P. 1515. Lomé, Togo.
Oblé Neya
National Centre for Scientific and Technological Research, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Kangbéni Dimobe
Laboratory of Plant Biology and Ecology, UFR/SVT, University of Joseph Ki-Zerbo, 03 B.P. 7021 Ouagadougou 03, Burkina Faso and Institue of Environmental Sciences and Rural Development (ISEDR), University of Dédougou, B.P 176 Dédougou, Burkina Faso.
Aline Naawa
West African Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Graduate Research Program on Climate Change and Disaster Risks Management, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo. B.P. 1515. Lomé, Togo.
Fousseni Folega
Laboratory of Botany and Plant Ecology, Department of Botany, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo. B.P. 1515. Lomé, Togo.
Kperkouma Wala
Laboratory of Botany and Plant Ecology, Department of Botany, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo. B.P. 1515. Lomé, Togo.
Boalidioa Tankoano
Bioresource, Agrosystems and Environmental Health Laboratory (LaBASE), Rural Development Institute, University of Nazi BONI, Bobo-Dioulasso, 01 BP 1091 Bobo-Dioulasso 01 Burkina Faso.
Guibien Cleophas Zerbo
National Forest Tree Seed Centre (CNSF), 01 BP 2682 Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso.
Atato Abalo
Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Kara, Togo.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Protected areas' vulnerability assessments of neighboring communities fail to fully account for the relationship among climate, protected areas, and human activities, making it challenging to manage biodiversity sustainably and preserve neighboring communities' livelihoods. This study aims to evaluate the vulnerability of eight neighboring communities of Dinderesso and Peni classified forest to climate and human activities through a simplified and consistent framework. Eight focus groups were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire addressed to resource persons from eight neighboring communities. They assessed their vulnerability using a participatory research method. The categorial qualitative data collected were normalised and analysed using an arithmetic method in the Excel spreadsheet before being mapped using the software QGIS 3.18. The analysis revealed that neighboring Dinderesso and Peni classified forest vulnerability to climate and human activities ranges from low to moderate due to climate, socio-economic conditions, geographical location, topography, altitude, and management policies of the protected areas. These findings emphasise the importance of considering the vulnerability of neighboring communities to climate and human activities in the management plans and investments for protected areas by policymakers, forest managers and stakeholders. This is essential for advancing biodiversity conservation and safeguarding the well-being of local communities.
Keywords: Vulnerability, neighboring communities, classified forest, Dinderesso and Peni, Burkina Faso