Societies and Nature in the Sahel: Rethinking Environmental Degradation (Routledge Sei Global Environment and Development Series)

This book explores the links between environment and social systems in the Sahel, integrating ecological, demographic, economic, technical, social and cultural factors. Examining the conditions for land occupation and natural resource use, it offers a conceptual and practical approach to social organization and environmental management. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of figures......Page 10 List of tables......Page 12 List of contributors......Page 13 Foreword by......Page 14 Preface......Page 22 Acknowledgements......Page 24 INTRODUCTION: THE 'DESERTIFICATION' OF THE SAHEL: A SYMBOL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS......Page 26 ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND DEGRADATION FACTORS IN THE SAHEL......Page 37 THE DEMOGRAPHIC ISSUE IN THE WESTERN SAHEL: FROM THE GLOBAL TO THE LOCAL SCALE......Page 62 POPULATIONS AND LAND: MULTIPLE DYNAMICS AND CONTRASTING REALITIES......Page 81 MAJOR SAHELIAN TRADE NETWORKS: PAST AND PRESENT......Page 115 A SHARED LAND: COMPLEMENTARY AND COMPETING USES......Page 134 SAHELIAN AGRARIAN SYSTEMS: PRINCIPAL RATIONALES......Page 163 THE DIVERSITY OF FARMING PRACTICES......Page 184 RELATIONS BETWEEN MAN AND HIS ENVIRONMENT: THE MAIN TYPES OF SITUATION IN THE WESTERN SAHEL......Page 209 SAHELIAN SOCIAL SYSTEMS: VARIETY AND VARIABILITY......Page 239 THE TRANSFORMATION OF SOCIAL RELATIONS AND THE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 1 THE BIRTH OF THE LAND QUESTION......Page 260 THE TRANSFORMATION OF SOCIAL RELATIONS AND THE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 2 THE EMANCIPATION OF THE WORKFORCE......Page 287 CONCLUSION: RELATIONS BETWEEN SOCIETY AND NATURE;THEIR DYNAMICS, DIVERSITY AND COMPLEXITY......Page 315 Bibliography......Page 350 Index......Page 366 "Societies and Nature in the Sahel provides an in-depth analysis of the diverse Sahelo-Sudanian environment. Drawing on a wealth of research and historical development, this book explores the links between environment and social systems in the Sahel, integrating ecological, demographic, economic, technical, social and cultural factors." "Examining the conditions for land occupation and natural resource use in the Sahel, this book offers a conceptual and practical approach to social organisation and environmental management in the face of rapid environmental change." "With a unique focus on the Francophone states, Societies and Nature in the Sahel presents important implications for future intervention strategies in order to address the crisis of desertification across sub-Saharan Africa."--Résumé de l'éditeur "Societies and Nature in the Sahel provides an in-depth analysis of the diverse Sahelo-Sudanian environment. Drawing on a wealth of research and historical development, this book explores the links between environment and social systems in the Sahel, integrating ecological, demographic, economic, technical, social and cultural factors." "Examining the conditions for land occupation and natural resource use in the Sahel, this book offers a conceptual and practical approach to social organisation and environmental management in the face of rapid environmental change." "With a unique focus on the Francophone states, Societies and Nature in the Sahel presents important implications for future intervention strategies in order to address the crisis of desertification across sub-Saharan Africa."--BOOK JACKET Examining the conditions for land occupation and natural resource use in the Sahel, this book offers a conceptual and practical approach to social organization and environmental management in the face of rapid environmental change. As the last two decades have steadily unfolded, the mounting crisis in the Sahel1 has forced itself on to the front page of the environmental debate.