Land Use Dynamics and Forage Availability of Pastures in Southwest Burkina Faso

Abstract

Land is subject to various uses aimed at meeting human needs for crop and livestock production as well as infrastructure. These multiple uses and demands make land occupation dynamic. To understand this dynamic and its potential impacts on livestock activities, the present study was conducted in the area of Batié. It aimed to examine the conditions of feed availability for livestock by analysing both the evolution of grazing areas and the productivity of forage herbaceous species. A diachronic analysis of land use dynamics from 1990 to 2019 was carried out, followed by an evaluation of the pastures in Batiéarea. The results show a strong decrease in natural formations to the benefit of human-modified ones between 1990 and 2019. For example, wooded savanna decreased by 8,494.55 ha, while farmland gained 9,128.09 ha during the same period. At the same time, bare areas increased by 690.33 ha. These changes negatively affected both the availability and quality of pastures. Indeed, the expansion of bare areas and settlements reduced the extent of grazing lands, while the increase in cropland and orchards favored the spread of non-palatable species such as Spermacoce verticillata, Hyptis spicigera, and Tridax procumbens. The results also show that Fields, with the lowest gross pastoral value (19%), constituted a poor pastoral unit. Conversely, shrub savanna, with the highest pastoral value (70.12%) and the best phytomass yield, was identified as the best pastoral unit in the study. Its reduction in area has therefore led to a decline in forage quality and availability. It is thus necessary to further reflect on the dynamics of land occupation in the area through a study on local perceptions of the phenomenon.