Transcript Environmental changes and migration in the Sahel: An

Environmental changes and
migration in the Sahel: An
exploratory note
Aderanti Adepoju
Human Resources Development Centre,
Lagos, Nigeria
[email protected]
Key issues to be addressed
• environmental change and human mobility;
• implications of environmental change on human
mobility;
• environmental vulnerability, migration, peace
and stability;
• climate change, human security, conflicts;
• climate change and forced migration;
• managing environmental issues at local level.
Definitional/typological issues
Environmentally induced migration in context of:
• internal-international migration continuum
• voluntary-forced migration continuum
• temporary cross-border workers, seasonal
migrants, clandestine workers, refugees and
professionals
• cross-border movements of farm labourers,
unskilled workers, female traders and nomads
Environmentally-induced
population displacements
Kinds of disasters
• deforestation,
• desertification,
• land/natural resources degradation
• climate change,
• drought,
• soil erosion,
• floods,
• natural disasters,
• dam construction
• conflicts,
• water, air and ground pollution
Issues of multi-cuasality
• poverty, poor living conditions, cultural,
religious underlying factors
• current knowledge not well founded.
• research-based understanding limited.
• placing environmental migrants in the
voluntary-forced migration continuum
unresolved.
• unexplored agenda: most people impacted
by environmental degradation do not
migrate.
The west African Sahel zone
• droughts and famine recurring environmental
problem
• imbalanced human and land-environmental systems
• agriculture lifeline: delicate balance between
production system and fragile environment.
• ecological context: land confiscation for forest
reserves
• rapid population growth; diminished grazing land.
• overgrazing, deforestation and poor land
management.
• inadequate rainfall and post-drought regeneration
Family coping strategies
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
shift from cattle to drought resistant goats
employment diversification portfolio
selective sponsored migration
increasing circular migration
diversification of migration destinations
stronger lineage control, dual-residence
remittances to wider network of kin.
Actors
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Role of sectoral actors
NGOs
Local communities
National authorities
Development partners
United Nation Agencies
Researchers
Targeted sectoral activities
Basket of intervention measures:
• Drought - promote irrigation; drought resistant varieties;
soil/water conservation; reforestation
• Desertification - reduce wood cutting; increase tree
planting; promote solar cooking.
• Land degradation: training on sustainable natural
resource management, environmental education at
village levels.
• Deforestation: support local NGOs; reduce cost of
alternative technologies
• Conflicts: develop early warning system for conflict
prevention; efficient settlement of differences, promote
social harmony, democratic principles and popular
participation.