Country study Burkina Faso 
Biodiversity 

3.2.3 STATE OF THE CONSERVATION OF SPECIES AND POPULATIONS

The measures and actions undertaken until now made it possible to preserve some of the habitats which are the most favourable to the conservation of biological diversity, such as parks, natural reserves (protected forests, protected zones and silvi-pastoral reserves). Map 11 gives a view of the distribution of protected natural formations.

Map 10: Hydrographic network and water reservoirs

Map 11: Protected natural formations

3.2.3.1 Presentation of the richest habitats in fauna and flora diversity

In Burkina Faso, like everywhere in the world, biological diversity is distributed through all the country's ecosystems according to the biology and ecology of each species. Today, these ecosystems are victims of many natural and man-made factors, particularly, persistent droughts and population pressure, which make their equilibrium precarious. The consequence of this is the reduction of species ecosystems and habitats, the scarcity of some species, which have now become fragile, the change in attitude of some species, etc.

Today, the richest (qualitatively and quantitatively) habitats in species amount to the various conservation areas of terrestrial fauna (national parks, synergetic zones, biosphere reserves, etc.), protected forests, natural and artificial wetlands (ponds, dam lakes, developed areas, etc.). In these agricultural zones, there is an increasing development of a vertebrate fauna dependent on these types of habitats (eg. : crop destructive insects).

3.2.3.1.1 National parks, natural reserves and other protected zones

In the report, presented by Burkina Faso at the United Nations Conference, on the Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in1992, the country's natural forestry formations are divided into two domains: the non-protected domain (11 604 000 ha, i.e. 75% of formations) and the protected domain (3 816 000 ha, i.e. 25% of formations). The protected formations (protected forests and the silvi-pastoral and partial fauna reserve) are 65 and cover a total area of 2 678 747 ha (source : GUINKO S., 1996). The development below presents the components of the protected domain.

a) National parks.

They include the total protection zones of wildlife and its habitat where the only samples allowed are those of improvements by technical services, (by involving resident populations). There are two (2) in the country, particularly the "W" National Park, established by decree on August 14 1954 with an area of 350 000 ha, situated in the Tapoa province, half-way between Niger, Benin and Burkina Faso, and the Kaboré Tambi National Park in Pô, Nahouri province, established by order 76-02/PRES-ET of 02/09/1976. The total area of national parks is 390 500 ha, i.e. 10% of protected formations.

b) Wildlife reserves.

Wildlife reserves are protected natural zones or wildlife exploitation (sampling, hunting, and tourism of vision, etc.) is regulated.

Burkinabè wildlife, which used to be very rich has now become much poorer today. The existing big wildlife is mainly concentrated in the extreme south of the protected zones of the southwest zones (Comoé province), Centre-south and southeast (provinces of Sissili, Nahouri, Gourma and Tapoa). The Arly wildlife reserve and the Nazinga game ranch are high observation points of big wildlife (source: Notice de la Carte de végétation du Burkina Faso, GUINKO S. et FONTES J., 1995).
Wildlife reserves cover 2 545 500 ha. The are nine (9) most important ones in terms of area and they are subdivided into two categories according to the management approach applied to them. Thus, four total reserves and five partial reserves can be distinguished; the list of the 9 wildlife reserves is shown in table 19.

Table 19: List of wildlife reserves

Name	Classification	Area (ha)	Year of establishment	Situation
Arly Wildlife Reserve	Total	76 000	1954	Tapoa province
Madjoari Wildlife Reserve	Total	17 000	1970	Tapoa province
Singou Wildlife Reserve	Total	192 000	1955	Gourma province
Bontioli Wildlife Reserve	Total	12 700	1957	Bougouriba province
Arly Wildlife Reserve	Partial	96 000	1954	Gourma province
Kourtiagou Wildlife Reserve	Partial	51 000	1957	Tapoa province
Pama Wildlife Reserve	Partial	223 700	1955	Gourma province
Nabéré Wildlife Reserve	Partial	36 000	1957	Bougouriba province
Bontioli Wildlife Reserve	Partial	29 500	1957	Bougouriba province
TOTAL		733 900

Source: OUEDRAOGO N. A., 1997.

The areas mentioned for the various reserve categories are the ones existing in official records. However, the actual areas are less than these figures because of the various pressures mentioned earlier. In addition to these reserves, there is the Nazinga Game Ranch, which contains an important diversity of vertebrates.

c) The silvi-pastoral and partial wildlife reserve

In Burkina Faso, there is a silvi-pastoral and partial wildlife reserve known as of the Sahel, which covers an area of 1 600 000 ha, corresponding to the Soum, Séno and Oudalan provinces. It is a zone where pastoral activities are undertaken in natural pastures and where there is a wildlife reserve open to pastoral activities. The main part of this reserve is now subject to exploitation systems which do not conform with the status of a reserve; this explains why the prospecting undertaken as part of the UPV-82/008 project retained a zone of 1 220 km2 comprising the west of Forage Christine, the Oursi and Béli ponds for the conservation of the representative ecosystems of Burkinabè Sahel (source : OUEDRAOGO N. A., 1997).

d) Synergetic reserves

They concern the wildlife-protected areas where hunting is controlled and wildlife habitat partially protected. Depending on their management systems, they are either real synergetic zones, controlled by the State agencies in charge of environment, or zones hired by the State to individuals who ensure their management themselves following laid down specifications.

e) Reserves of international importance

Three protected domains in Burkina Faso have an international importance, i.e. belonging to world patrimony. These are : The Hippopotamuses Pond (biosphere reserve of an area of 19 200 ha) situated in the Houet province, the Oursi Pond (Ramsar site with an area of 45 000 ha) in the Oudalan province , and the "W" Park (Ramsar site with 235 000 ha), half-way between Burkina Faso, Benin and Niger.

f) Protected forests

According to METRO A., 1975 protected forests are the forestry zones defined and demarcated as such according to a legislative and regulatory measure, in such a way as to give it the required legal protection. The protected forests of Burkina Faso cover a total area of 1 112 747 ha, without the Sahel silvi-pastoral and partial wildlife reserve (see. Table 20). However, this total area is theoretical, because of the illegal settlements forests are subjected to.

Table 20: Situation of protected formations in Burkina Faso

Province	Name of the formation	Situation(district, village)	Date of designation-classification	N° of order -decree- of designation	Area(ha)
Comoé	FC Bérégadougou	Banfora	4 Nov. 1953	8107 /SE / F	5 000
Comoé	FC Bounouna	Sidéradougou	31 May 1955	4088 /SE / F	1 300
Comoé	FC Boulon	Sidéradougou	31 May 1955	4087 /SE / F	12 000
Comoé	FC Kongoko	Sidéradougou	31 May1955	4089 /SE / F	27 000
Comoé	FC Kaflandé	Banfora	4 Nov. 1953	8106 /SE / F	30 000
Comoé	FC Diéfoula	Niangoloko	29 Nov. 1937	3499 /SE / F	85 000
Comoé	FC Logoniégué	Mangodara	4 August 1955	689 / FOR	29 000
Comoé	FC Babolo	Niangoloko	22 Sept. 1943	3413 /SE / F	550
Comoé	FC Gouandougou	Sidéradougou	31 May 1955	4086 /SE / F	9 500
Comoé	FC Dida	Mangodara	4 August 1955	688 / FOR	75 000
Comoé	FC Toumousséni	Banfora	12 April 1954	2875 /SE / F	2 500
Comoé	FC Yendéré	Niangoloko	5 April 1934	1312 /SE / F	700
Comoé	FC Source du Mouhoun	Moussodougou	31 May 1955	4084 /SE / F	100
Comoé	FC Niangoloko	Niangoloko	27 Feb. 1936	420 /SE / G	6 654
Boulgou	FC Ouilingoré	Zabré	23 Oct. 1936	2500 / SE	6 850
Boulgou	FC Yakala	Tenkodogo	23 Oct. 1936	2500 / SE	1 600
Bougouriba	FC Dibon	Diébougou	24 June 1954	4637 / SE/F	20 000
Bougouriba	FC Bougouriba	Diébougou	4 August 1955	690 / FOR	8 500
Bougouriba	FC Bontioli	Diébougou	23 March 1957	3147 / SE/F	29 500
Bougouriba	FC Nabéré	Diébougou	3 August 1953	5768/ SE/ EF	36 500
Houet	FC Maro	Houndé	28 Jan. 1940	116 / SE	50 000
Houet	FC Bahon	Houndé	26 March 1937	836 / SE	1 600
Houet	FC Tui	Houndé	17 Jan. 1940	115 / SE	50 000
Houet	FC Dindéresso	Bobo-Dsso	27 Feb. 1936,  26 August 1941	422 / SE or 3006 / SE / E	8 500
Houet	FC Mare aux Hippopotames	Satiri	26 March 1937	836 / SE	19 200
Houet	FC Koulima	Bobo-Dsso	27 Feb. 1936	421 / SE or 1486 / SE	2 150
Houet	FC Bansié	Bobo-Dsso	26 March 1937	836 / SE	300
Houet	FC Mou	Bobo-Dsso	20 Oct. 1938	3406 / SE	34 000
Houet	FC Dan	Bobo-Dsso	3 August 1953	5765 / SE	4 300
Houet	FC Téré	Kouka	23 Nov. 1951	8314 / SE/ F	10 700
Houet	FC Kou	Bobo-Dsso	13 Jan. 1951	190 IGF	117
Houet	FC Péni	Bobo-Dsso	24 Sept. 1942	3389 / SE/ F	1 200
Houet	FC Koa	Bobo-Dsso	27 April 1936	891 / SE	350
Houet	FC Bambou	Bobo-Dsso	26 March 1937	836 / SE	1 800
Houet	FC Kapo	Houndé	26 March 1937	836 / SE	9 900
Ganzourgou	FC Wayen	Wayen	26 August 1941	3009/SE or 3005	12 000
Kadiogo	FC Barrage	Ouagadougou	9 Oct. 1936 26 August 1941	2376 / SE or 3004 / SE	260

Table 20 (continued)

Province	Name of the formation	Situation(district, village)	Date of designation-classification	N° of order -decree- of designation	Area(ha)
Kouritenga	FC Sitenga	Koupéla	23 Oct. 1936	2500 / SE	840
Mouhoun	FC Pâ	Boromo	19 June 1937	1639/SE/S	15 625
Mouhoun	FC Bonou	Boromo	19 June 1937	1639/SE/S	1 700
Mouhoun	FC Tuy	Bondokuy	17 Jan. 1940	115/SF/5	50 000
Mouhoun	FC Nasébou	Boromo	19 June 1937	117/SE	14 000
Mouhoun	FC Sâ	Dédougou	17 Jan. 1940	3320/SE	5 400
Mouhoun	FC Kari	Dédougou	13 Oct. 1938	3320/SE	13 000
Mouhoun	FC Ouoro	Dédougou	13 Oct. 1938	3320/SE	14 000
Mouhoun	FC Toroba	Dédougou	13 Oct. 1938	3320/SE	2 700
Mouhoun	FC Tissé	Dédougou	13 Oct. 1938	3320/SE	21 500
Mouhoun	FC Sorobouty	Boromo	13 Oct. 1938 17 Jan. 1940	113/SF/S	5 800
Mouhoun	FC 2 Ballé	Boromo	19 June 1937	1639/SE/S	115 000
Nahouri	FC Pic de Nahouri	Pô	13 Oct. 1938	3320/SE/S	836
Nahouri	FC de Nazinga	Pô	4 Decem. 1953	8827/SE/F	38 300
Namentenga	FC Tougouri		9 Oct. 1936	2376/SE	40
Oubritenga	FC Nakambé	Ziniaré, Manga, Kombissiri	3 August 1953	5767/SE/EF	98 000
Oubritenga	FC Ziga	Ziniaré	3 August 1953	5769/SE/EF	9 000
Oubritenga	FC Gonsé	Saaba	28 Feb. 1953	1550/SE	6 000
Oubritenga	FC Bissiga	Zitenga	23 Oct. 1936 26 August 1941	2500/SE 3003/SE	4 100
Passoré	FC Niouma	Yako	12 April 1954	2878/EF	735
Passoré	FC Twéssé	Yako	24 June 1954	4638/SE/F	490
Poni	FC Koulbi	Batié	4 August 1955	387/FOR	40 000
Sanmatenga	FC Yabo	Kaya	9 Oct. 1936	2376/SE/S	1 000
Sanmatenga	FC Dem	Kaya	19 June 1937	1639/SE/S	350
Sanmatenga	FC Nakambé		9 Oct. 1936	2376/SE	2 000
Sanguié	FC Kalio	Pouni	17 Janv. 1940 May 1 1936	111/SE/S 961/SE	12 000
Sissili	FC Sissili	Léo	31 Decem. 1955	1093/FOR	32 700
Soum-Séno-Oudalan	Réserve sylvo-pastorale et partielle de faune du Sahel Séno-Oudalan-Soum		9 Decem. 1970	Ordonnance n° 70/302/PRES/ AGRI-EL	1 600 000
Sourou	FC Sourou	Yaba	27 March 1937	1092	14 000
TOTAUX	66				2 712 747

Source: GUINKO S., 1996

3.2.3.1.2 The situation of protected areas

In addition to the late initiation of the measures in order to protect them (1936-1957), the protected zones are increasingly faced with an accelerated degradation which constitutes a serious threat. The main damages protected formations are subjected are:

• degazetting, modifications of demarcations and changes in the status of some forests;
• every 1/3 of the country's area undergoes bush fires;
• clearing of almost 100 000 ha/year of forestry lands;
• fragilisation of ecosystems by their inappropriate exploitation;
• resurgence of the degradation of formations because of population and livestock, as well as the successive droughts which cause a plant and animal massive death.

Inside protected areas all the components of biological diversity do not benefit from practical appropriate conservation measures. This is particularly the case of entomological fauna and aquatic flora, which represent hardly explored domains. In addition, efforts made as part of conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity are characterised by constraints coming mainly from the poverty of the populations often struggling for their survival.