What Role for Local Communities in the Conservation of the Bontioli Forest, Burkina Faso?

The decline of forests in many countries has prompted governments to adopt conservation measures for forest resources. In the total and partial wildlife reserves of Bontioli, forest conservation appears difficult to implement despite the state's adoption of so-called participatory management approaches. Forest cover loss persists due to the combined effects of natural and human factors. Authorities are attempting to preserve the forest in a context of growing local needs, driven—though not exclusively—by demographic pressure. Using a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative data, we mapped this forest retreat and analyzed its underlying causes. We also examined local perceptions of forest conservation. While forest decline is widely acknowledged and lamented, it highlights divergent views between authorities and local populations regarding concepts such as deforestation and conservation. The diversity of perceptions, depending on place of residence and the level of dependence on the land resources of the Bontioli reserves, also plays a key role in the acceptance of policies aimed at forest preservation. For sustainable forest management, the development of socio-economic infrastructure, the transformation of a part of the reserve into an agroforestry park, and the ongoing consultation of local communities emerge as effective solutions for safeguarding the forest.