First camera survey in Burkina Faso and Niger reveals human pressures on mammal communities within the largest protected area complex in West Africa

A first-of-its-kind camera survey in Burkina Faso and Niger reveals that human activities, particularly livestock grazing and resource gathering, significantly impact mammal behavior within the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex, the largest protected area in West Africa. While these pressures did not affect species richness or composition, they notably reduced mammal activity, with wild ungulates showing the greatest sensitivity to livestock presence. The study highlights the complex interplay between human and natural systems, shifting the WAP's conservation mandate from nature protection alone to a dynamic coupled ecosystem approach.

Harris, N. C., Mills, K. L., Harissou, Y., Hema, E. M., Gnoumou, I. T., VanZoeren, J., Abdel‐Nasser, Y. I., & Doamba, B. (2019). First camera survey in Burkina Faso and Niger reveals human pressures on mammal communities within the largest protected area complex in West Africa. Conservation Letters, 12(5). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12667