ions. They also need to receive the information in Fulfulde, rather than French, as is currently the case with climate information.
The Fulani herders draw on a vast number of signals from the environment to detect changes in the seasons and determine when it’s time to begin migrating or to return to their villages of origin. One key set of signals is the arrival and departure of three kinds of migratory birds. They also watch for blossoms, fruit or leaf shedding on certain local trees. For example, in the dry season, when the ficus tree starts bearing fruit, the herders start sending scouts in different directions to assess the condition of grass and water. They also pay close attention to livestock behavior—when livestock start walking in the direction of home, it’s time to return—and read the stars, the color of the sky, the wind and temperature, the timing and strength of the rains.
But the Fulani are increasingly struggling to make good migration decisions based on these indicators; rainfall variability and unpredictability can cause birds to migrate too late or too early, and some plants and wildlife used to predict rainfall quality are disappearing. Fulani migratory routes are also becoming more restricted due to concerns over terror or jihadist attacks in traditional migration routes and destinations, such as the northern areas near the Mali border. Disruption of the seasonal migration process could lead to loss of livestock and food insecurity in pastoral households, with negative consequences for the country’s GDP.
“For many years, herders have been used to blending diverse sources of knowledge to make herd management and livelihood decisions,” says Ilboudo-Nébié. “In the times of climate change, as herders’ indigenous indicators become less reliable, they might be keen to combine climate information with what they already know — if it helps keep their livestock well fed and in good health.”