Livelihoods Systems in Niger
(Simon Batterbury: University of Arizona) 14 May 2002

Livelihoods systems in a Zarma community in SW Niger, West Africa were studied as part of an interdisciplinary project funded by the ESRC (UK) from 1995-1999 [grants L320253247, L320223003]. Our aim was to monitor rural livelihoods in the absence of any major development interventions, and in an adverse political economy beset by economic shortfalls and political instability at national level. The research team made efforts to link measures of 'natural capital' - particularly soil erosion - to changes in livelihoods over a thirty year period, and to livelihood dynamics in and between households. We found the 'capital' framework problematic in its ability to measure the different 'capitals' - even natural capital - in this dryland community; there are too many uncertainties to make hard and fast assessments. Most controversially, the research found a relationship between more livelihood diversification (productive bricolage) and increased soil erosion on agricultural land, explained by disinvestment and labour shortage for farming in diversified households.

Subsequently published papers:
'Landscapes of Diversity' word file
'Sustainability and Sahelian soils' PDF file

Warren A, S.P.J. Batterbury & H.Osbahr 2001 “Sustainability and Sahelian Soils: evidence from Niger” The Geographical Journal 167 (4): 324-341

S.P.J. Batterbury 2001 “Landscapes of diversity: a local political
ecology of livelihood diversification in south-western Niger”. Ecumene 8 (4): 437-464. [Special Issue].

A. Warren, H.Osbahr, S.P.J. 2002 Batterbury and A. Chappell “Indigenous views of soil erosion at Fandou Beri, Southwestern Niger" in press. Geoderma - [special issue on ethnopedology].

A. Warren, S.P.J. Batterbury & H. Osbahr 2001 “Soil erosion in the West African Sahel: a review and an application of a ‘Local Political Ecology’ approach in South West Niger”. Global Environmental Change 11(1): 79-96. [Special Issue]

S.P.J. Batterbury, N.Taylor, M Weigl 1996 "Environmental Security in southwestern Niger” Development Research Insights (IDS, Sussex) No.21(March):2

S.P.J. Batterbury A. Warren et al 1999 "Land Use and Land Degradation In Southwestern Niger: Change And Continuity." Final Report to the ESRC Global Environmental Change Programme. London: LSE. 100pp. (August 1999)
http://www.regard.ac.uk/research_findings/L320253247/report.pdf

S.P.J. Batterbury , A. Warren. 2000 Land Use & Land Degradation in SW Niger. GECKO Newsletter, 22 (Spring 2000):5
http://www.susx.ac.uk/Units/gec/pubs/news/newsletr.htm

Dr Simon Batterbury
Assistant Professor Department of Geography and Regional Development
The University of Arizona
409 Harvill Building,
Box #2 Tucson,
AZ 85721-0076, USA
Phone: (520) 626-8054
Fax: (520) 621-2889
http://geog.arizona.edu/