FORCED MIGRATION, ENVIRONMENTAL-CHANGE AND WOODFUEL ISSUES IN THE SENEGAL RIVER VALLEY

There is increasing international concern about the environmental impa cts of refugees on host areas, with governments calling for compensati on for environmental damage, particularly concerning the loss of woodl and resources as a result of demand for wood for fuel. In addition to an obvious increase in the population of host areas, concern about ref ugees' woodfuel-use centres on the notion that they are 'exceptional r esource degraders'. Since they view their stay as temporary, it is arg ued, they therefore do not have any incentive to use resources in a wa y that is sustainable in the long-term. This study examined refugee mi gration to the middle valley of the Senegal River, and compared woodfu el use by refugee and local populations. Drawing on a household survey and direct measurement of woodfuel use, little or no evidence is foun d to support the expectation that refugees use more wood for fuel than local people, or that they are more destructive in their collection o r use of wood. This is important since it suggests that policy measure s developed to reduce what is perceived as excess demand by refugees, notably through the introduction of fuel-efficient stoves, are unlikel y to be successful. Reforestation schemes have been relatively unsucce ssful in addressing supply or demand for wood.