Burkina Faso's nature reserves are worth protecting—but people have to be part of the plan

Burkina Faso is a west African dryland country known for its diverse ecosystems, including savannas, forests and wetlands. Large herbivores like elephants, giraffes and hippopotamuses, and predators like lions, leopards and the African lynx, roam the country's savannas. Many bird species use the country as a stopover or wintering ground, making it an important migratory route between Europe and Africa.