Frédéric ALEXANDRE, Catherine MERING. Perception and representation of socio-environmental changes in rural societies in Sahelian and Sudanian West Africa
Controversies surrounding socio-environmental changes and landscape dynamics in Dogon country (Mali) (2 fig.; 1 photo)
This article, using the analysis of changes in the Dogon country (Mali), examines the catastrophic descriptions of the evolution dynamics of West African landscapes and environment. Studies on those dynamics, which are frequently characterised as desertification, relies on inappropriate bases. Our aim is not to deny the material reality of the degradation and its consequences on the communities but to throw light on the transformation processes with a different perspective and thus help to reinvent the definitions of the so-called ecosystem restoration and protection programs which, through their simplistic practices, help to increase the vulnerable nature of the socioecological systems that they wish to sustain.
keywords: DESERTIFICATION, DOGON COUNTRY, ECONOMICAL INSTRUMENTALISATION, POLITICAL INSTRUMENTALISATION, WEST AFRICA
From one riverbank to the other: Changes in land cover and stakeholders’ discourse in Basse-Casamance (7 fig.; 7 photos; 7 tabl.)
In Senegal, while climate change has significant socio-economic consequences, farmers present it in different ways depending on the cultural, political and religious contexts. In Basse- Casamance, while the decline in wood cover caused by drought has been partially offset by its increase since the 2000s, during the same period, other land cover dynamics appeared, which are surprising in that they differed from one river bank to the other, in a region that lays strong emphasis on its homogeneous nature.
keywords: BASSE-CASAMANCE, CLIMATE CHANGE, LAND COVER, REMOTE-SENSING, STAKEHOLDER DISCOURSE, SENEGAL
The evolution of shea parklands in Benin: Gender inequalities and disenchantment of the world (4 fig.; 1 photo)
Shea parklands are a human construction carried out under certain conditions of land management and population density. While global demand for shea butter is on the rise, the state of the parklands is mixed and often on the decline. In Northern Benin, there is a clear discrepancy between the interests of the men in charge of tree management and the women who use the fruit but do not have the power to take decisions about the maintenance and regeneration of the parklands. In addition to this gender inequality, the evolution of the representations pertaining to the tree contributes, along with other factors, to the neglect of shea parklands.
keywords: AGROFORESTRY, BENIN, GENDER, LAND TENURE, SHEA BUTTER, SOCIAL REPRESENTATION
Use and management of the savannah by the rural societies in Sahel. A case-study of the forest reserve of Nianing (Senegal) (1 doc.; 2 fig.; 19 photos)
Based on surveys conducted among local stakeholders in villages as well as observation of their practices, this article analyses the way in which these communities use and manage the trees in the village land and the neighbouring Sahelian savannah. Our study allowed us to confirm that while wood continues to be used daily and plays a central role for the Sahelian rural population, the spread of effective agro-forest strategies such as cultivation contracts is currently leading to an improvement in wood cover through an original afforestation project.
keywords: ANTHROPOLOGY, RURAL GEOGRAPHY, SAVANNAH, SENEGAL, TREE
Book reviews
In this issue of l’Espace géographique, you will find critical reviews of the following books
BOURDON É. (2017). La forge gauloise de la nation. Ernest Lavisse et la fabrique des ancêtres. Lyon: Ens Éditions, coll. «Sociétés, espaces, temps», 290 p. (Guy Baudelle, université de Rennes 2) ISBN: 978-2-84788-896-6
CHOPLIN A., PLIEZ O. (2018). La Mondialisation des pauvres, loin de Wall Street et de Davos. Paris: Le Seuil, coll. «La République des idées», 110 p. (Claude Bataillon, CNRS Toulouse) ISBN: 978-2-02-136652-5
DEPRAZ S., CORNEC U., GRABSKI-KIERON U. (2015). Acceptation sociale et développement des territoires. Lyon: Ens Éditions, coll. «Sociétés, espaces, temps», 266 p. (Marion Florez, université de Rennes 2) ISBN: 978-2-84788-693-1
FARINÓS J., OJEDA J.F., TRILLO J.M. (2019). España: Geografías para un Estado posmoderno. Madrid, Barcelone: Asociacíon Española de Geofrafía, 300 p. (Michel Drain, IFRI) ISBN: 978-84-947787-1-1
LE BRETON A. (2019). Mobilité, la fin du rêve? Rennes: Éditions Apogée, coll. «Les penseurs sociaux», 96 p. (Louis-Thibault Buron, université de Rennes 2) ISBN: 978-2-84398-509-6
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Last modified: December 15, 2019
