The Tiogo Classified Forest Put to the Test of Time: Community Perception of Forest Resource Dynamics

Boureima Sawadogo¹*, Abdoul-Azize Sampebgo¹, Amadou Zan¹ and Joachim Bonkoungou^2
1Doctor, Norbert ZONGO University, Department of Geography, Burkina Faso
²Senior Researcher, Institute for Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA), Center for Environmental, Agricultural and Training Research (CREAF), Burkina Faso
*Corresponding Author: Boureima Sawadogo, Doctor, Norbert ZONGO University, Department of Geography, Burkina Faso.

Published: July 23, 2025

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Abstract  

This study analyzes the perceptions of local communities regarding the dynamics of plant and animal species in the Tiogo Classified Forest (TCF). Based on field surveys and direct observations, the research reveals a significant decline in forest cover, perceived by 83.49% of respondents as advanced degradation. Paradoxically, some plant species are reported to be expanding particularly Guiera senegalensis, Lannea microcarpa, and Acacia macrostachya suggesting an adaptive response to environmental and anthropogenic pressures. From a faunal perspective, species perceived as increasing include the hare, partridge, and monkey, while large mammals such as the lion, buffalo, and elephant are widely reported as disappearing. The degradation of the TCF is attributed primarily to human activities, including bushfires, gold panning, agricultural clearing, uncontrolled fires, and demographic pressure. Natural factors are rarely mentioned. Furthermore, the perceived utility of species influences local assessments of their abundance, potentially biasing the evaluation of their actual status. These findings highlight the urgency of implementing conservation and sustainable management strategies that integrate local knowledge with scientific approaches to preserve biodiversity and enhance the ecological resilience of the TCF.

Keywords: Environmental Dynamics; Community Perceptions; Tiogo Classified Forest; Forest Governance; Burkina Faso

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