Responses to Climate Variability in the Kaya Region, Burkina Faso

Abstract

This chapter provides a detailed historical account of changes in the Kaya Region of northern Burkina Faso, an area that was selected as an example of the most difficult conditions in the West-African drylands: semi-arid, rural, high population density and relatively high levels of land degradation. Climate change and climate variability are put in a perspective along with many other factors such as the impact of colonialism, population growth and long-distance migration, mainly to the Cote ďIvoire, the world market for coffee, and cocoa, and recent political developments in Burkina Faso itself. The droughts of the 1970s and 1980s resulted in a shift towards diversified livelihoods and multi-locational security networks and to changes in kinship relationships. Flexibility has been the key to survival and this is something that is often not very well understood by development planners involved in the area.