Wildlife damage: About fifteen million CFA francs to seventy-six victims (Burkina Faso)

Author(s)

Sidwaya Ouagadougou

Date Published

Translated from French by an automated online translation service, so please excuse the roughness. See link for original. Thank you to Anne Dillon for both volunteering her time to find these French articles and doing the online translating.

The Environmental Response Fund (FIE) presented, Wednesday, December 28, 2016, in Ouagadougou, checks from 310,000 to over one million CFA francs to victims of damage caused by wild animals in the different regions of Burkina Faso.

Compensation for farmers affected by damage caused by wild animals is now a reality, following the decree provided and the reparations made. Indeed, the farmers came into possession of their checks, Wednesday, December 28, 2016, in Ouagadougou. Of seventy-seven folders containing findings citing damage in different regions of Burkina Faso, seventy-six were validated. The one file was rejected because, according to the minister in charge of the environment, Batio Nestor Bassière, the damage caused by monkeys are not referred to in Article 5 of the Decree. “The affected animals are elephants, hyenas, lions, hippos, Nile crocodiles gharial muzzle, marsh crocodiles, and buffaloes that had to devastate fields, granaries, grain and orchards,” he clarified. He added that the funds allocated for the compensation of the seventy-six victims is about 15 million CFA francs and the most affected areas are in the eastern region and specifically in the provinces of Tapoa and Kompienga.

The president of the thematic group “Forest Wildlife,” Paul Djiguemdé, also general manager of Water and Forestry, has, for his part, stressed that animal damage is a concern in all regions. The amount of compensation varies from 310,000 to over one million CFA francs. Among the ten victims who symbolically received their check, the producer of the Eastern Region, Bapougnini Sagna, had the greatest compensation, amounting to 1,359,000 CFA francs. According to Mr. Djiguemdé, he operated a large paddy field and was devastated by hippos, unlike other victims who in the majority, received a “visit” from the elephants in their fields. “I was a victim since August and with this amount I can feed my family for at least a year,” Sagna said as he welcomed the producer of the check.

President Paul Djiguemdé said that the fact that there is a difference in the amounts awarded can be explained, firstly, by the species of the animal “at fault” and, secondly, the area of the respective victim’s field. He noted that in the future, some species could be taken into account if they prove endemic. The department official in charge of the environment, Mr. Bassière, reassured the population with the implementation of the intervention Environment Fund (FIE) and the “fauna-forest” window that has just been put in operation, all matters relating to these conflicts will find appropriate solutions. “Steps will be taken to not allow animals to leave their natural environment, and it will also be for humans to avoid provoking them when they live in their natural environment,” warned the minister Bassière.

http://www.sidwaya.bf/m-14680-degats-des-animaux-sauvages-environ-15-millions-de-f-cfa-pour-76-victimes.html