Un siècle de peuplement en Afrique de l'Ouest

Abstract

From some 30 million inhabitants in 1900 West African population has risen to 306 million in 2010. Within one century this under-populated region which used to display landscapes often unscarred by human action has turned into a highly anthropized, densely populated region. The three major factors of this evolution have been high rural density (from a maximum of 25 inhabitants/km 2 in 1892 to over 100 inhabitants/km 2 nowadays), rapid urbanization (from 10 % of urban people in 1950 to 50 % predicted for 2020) and a dramatic degradation of vegetation in savannah, forest and mangrove areas. The population will continue to grow and is expected to reach between 550 to 700 million inhabitants in 2050, depending respectively on low or high hypotheses. It is worthwhile speculating about the evolution of land settlement and landscapes and the already strained relationships between humans, resources and the environment in population enclaves which in addition will be subjected to high climatic variability. To prevent a generalization of conflicts and their fatal consequences on sustainable development (education, accommodation, health), it is advisable to accurately appraise the challenges Western Africa will have to face 50 years from now and also to become aware that none of these challenges can be met without taking into consideration the interrelations existing between them. © 2011 NSS-Dialogues, EDP Sciences.