1. Environmental changes and migration in the Sahel: An exploratory note Aderanti Adepoju Human Resources Development Centre, Lagos, Nigeria aaderantiadepoju@aol.com

2. Key issues to be addressed environmental change and human mobility; implications of environmental change on human mobility; environmental vulnerability, migration, peace and stability; climate change, human security, conflicts; climate change and forced migration; managing environmental issues at local level.

3. Definitional/typological issues Environmentally induced migration in context of: internal-international migration continuum voluntary-forced migration continuum temporary cross-border workers, seasonal migrants, clandestine workers, refugees and professionals cross-border movements of farm labourers, unskilled workers, female traders and nomads

4. Environmentally-induced population displacements Kinds of disasters deforestation, desertification, land/natural resources degradation climate change, drought, soil erosion, floods, natural disasters, dam construction conflicts, water, air and ground pollution

5. Issues of multi-cuasality poverty, poor living conditions, cultural, religious underlying factors current knowledge not well founded. research-based understanding limited. placing environmental migrants in the voluntary-forced migration continuum unresolved. unexplored agenda: most people impacted by environmental degradation do not migrate.

6. The west African Sahel zone droughts and famine recurring environmental problem imbalanced human and land-environmental systems agriculture lifeline: delicate balance between production system and fragile environment. ecological context: land confiscation for forest reserves rapid population growth; diminished grazing land. overgrazing, deforestation and poor land management.overgrazingdeforestationland management inadequate rainfall and post-drought regeneration

7. Family coping strategies shift from cattle to drought resistant goats employment diversification portfolio selective sponsored migration increasing circular migration diversification of migration destinations stronger lineage control, dual-residence remittances to wider network of kin.

8. Actors Role of sectoral actors NGOs Local communities National authorities Development partners United Nation Agencies Researchers

9. Targeted sectoral activities Basket of intervention measures: Drought - promote irrigation; drought resistant varieties; soil/water conservation; reforestation Desertification - reduce wood cutting; increase tree planting; promote solar cooking. Land degradation: training on sustainable natural resource management, environmental education at village levels. Deforestation: support local NGOs; reduce cost of alternative technologies Conflicts: develop early warning system for conflict prevention; efficient settlement of differences, promote social harmony, democratic principles and popular participation.