Abstract
Increasing conflicts between farmers and pastoralists continue to be a major challenge in the Sahel. Political and social factors are in tandem important underlying determinants for conflicts in the region, which are amplified by the variability and scarcity of natural resources, often as a result of climate variability and climate change. This study aimed at holistically assessing the main environmental parameters that influence the patterns of seasonal migratory movements (transhumance) in a transboundary area in the southern Republic of Chad and northern Central African Republic through a broad set of Earth observation (EO) data and data from the Transhumance Tracking Tool. A spatial model was applied to the datasets to determine the spatiotemporal dynamics of environmental suitability that reflects suitable areas and corridors for pastoralists. A clear difference in environmental suitability between the origin and destination areas of herders was found in the dry season, proving the main reason for pastoralists’ movements, i.e., the search for grazing areas and water. Potential conflict risk areas could be identified, especially along an agricultural belt, which was proven by conflict location data. The results demonstrate the potential and innovation of EO-derived environmental information to support the planning of transhumance corridors and conflict prevention in the Sahel. In the future, a combination of real-time tracking of herders and EO-derived information can eventually lead to the development of an early warning system for conflicts along transhumance corridors in the Sahel.
Highlights
Conflicts between farmers and semi-nomadic livestock herders have increased over the past two decades [1], and continue to be a major challenge in subSaharan Africa [2,3]
Cropland was distinguished between rainfed and irrigated cropland within the product framing systems (Figure 3a). This information is important for transhumance movements, since rainfed cropland may be available as grazing land for herders during the dry season, in contrast to irrigated cropland
This study presents an Earth observation data-driven monitoring system of environmental conditions for transhumance, in direct support of International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s activities in the Sahel
Summary
Conflicts between farmers and semi-nomadic livestock herders (transhumance) have increased over the past two decades [1], and continue to be a major challenge in subSaharan Africa [2,3]. Farmer–herder conflicts concerning drought and water tensions have become widespread in the Sahel and eastern Africa [4,5]. Livestock farming strongly contributes to the regional states’ gross domestic product (GDP) in the Sahel, with up to 15% of the total GDP coming from this sector. Climatic, anthropogenic and underlying sociopolitical factors affect agro-ecological production systems in the Sahelian countries [7]. Subsistence farmers and pastoralists, who traditionally complement one another in how agro-ecological systems are used, are increasingly competing for the same natural
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