Burkina Faso is a west African dryland country known for its diverse ecosystems, including savannas, forests and wetlands. Large herbivores like elephant, giraffe and hippopotamus, and predators like lions, leopards and the African lynx, roam the country’s savannas. Many bird species use the country as a stopover or wintering ground, making it an important migratory route between Europe and Africa.
Nature reserves as protected areas cover 14% of the country’s land. They are surrounded by heavily populated areas. Demand for food, fuelwood and land to settle on has stimulated agricultural activity, grazing and woodcutting near these protected areas.
