Mediation in a changing landscape : success and failure in managing conflicts over natural resources in Southwest Burkina Faso

In south-west Burkina Faso, conflicts between farmers and herders are becoming more and more frequent. These conflicts originate in competition over access to natural resources. A number of different actors are involved in managing these conflicts The paper presents these different actors and their roles, explores current conflict management practices in the region, the strengths and weaknesses of the different actors, and the impact of current political changes, such as land tenure reform and decentralisation, on these practices. Includes bibliographical references. 35 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm.