By: Sarah Drake
Whether you call the prairies like the Midwest, the concrete jungle like New York, or the desert like Burkina Faso home, our world’s ecosystems are intricately interconnected, with biodiversity a vital cornerstone for ecological stability and human well-being. Across continents, from the semi-arid landscapes of Burkina Faso to the urban and rural lands of the United States (U.S.), the challenges of biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, and water scarcity transcend borders. In this global context, my work and other artists with environmental art emerge as a powerful medium to raise awareness and foster community-driven solutions.
This article explores the biodiversity of Burkina Faso, examining its challenges and conservation efforts, and the role of environmental art in addressing ecological issues. Finally, it draws parallels between Burkina Faso’s ecological struggles and the U.S.’ ongoing battles with diversity, water pollution, and access issues, with the universal lessons embedded in these shared challenges.
The Biodiversity of Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso, located in the Sahel region of West Africa, is a land of rich ecological and cultural diversity. Despite its arid climate, the country boasts a variety of ecosystems, including savannas, forests, and wetlands. These habitats support a wide array of flora and fauna, from resilient grasses and baobab trees to species like elephants, antelopes, and birds. Biodiversity in Burkina Faso is not just a natural treasure; it is deeply intertwined with the livelihoods and cultural practices of its people.
… I was tired of hearing people talk about safaris fondly, but not the people, art, food, music, culture, or anything else human
During my seven trips to Burkina Faso, I have only seen lizards and doves routinely. I saw crocodiles when we sought out the specific ponds that housed them. The only “wild” encounter I had was a monkey running across the road near the Nazinga Reserve. I’ve never visited the park, and it’s for multiple reasons. Mostly, it’s because I was tired of hearing people talk about safaris fondly, but not the people, art, food, music, culture, or anything else human. After my first trip, everybody asked about the safari I went on, not my experiences with people. I created a mixed media piece called People, Not Animals, that combined all the different popular African animals and my daughter’s face (she’s biracial with heritage from Guinea) to aid conversations on the importance of people.
There is more diversity than my experiences saw, but biodiversity in Burkina Faso faces significant threats. Climate change, with its increasingly erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged droughts, has exacerbated desertification in the region. Deforestation, driven by agricultural expansion, and population growth, further compounds the problem. These environmental challenges are closely linked to socioeconomic issues, as communities depend on natural resources for agriculture, water, and energy.
In response to these threats, Burkina Faso has seen a rise in conservation efforts that blend traditional knowledge with modern practices. Agroforestry—the integration of trees into agricultural landscapes—has gained traction as a sustainable way to restore degraded lands. Reforestation projects, such as the planting of the Great Green Wall, aim to combat desertification by creating a belt of greenery across the Sahel. Indigenous practices, like water conservation techniques and rotational grazing, also play a critical role in maintaining biodiversity while supporting local livelihoods. These efforts underscore the importance of community involvement in addressing ecological challenges.
Environmental Art in Burkina Faso
In Burkina Faso, local artists and communities have embraced environmental art as a means of storytelling and resistance
Environmental art, which merges creativity with ecological advocacy, has become an important tool for raising awareness about environmental issues in Burkina Faso. This art form uses natural materials and landscapes to create works that reflect the relationship between humanity and nature, often serving as a call to action. In Burkina Faso, local artists and communities have embraced environmental art as a means of storytelling and resistance.
Women painting on mud huts with rocks, sticks, and feathers with paint made from elements of nature is what inspired my first trip to Burkina Faso. Their techniques and storytelling of the environment around them while using items from said environment to create was intriguing. My first art show in Ouagadougou was an international juried show, and my artwork was focused on the biodiversity and loss of it in the country.
This type of art also provides a platform for cultural preservation. In a country where oral traditions and community gatherings are central to cultural identity, art serves as a bridge between generations, passing down knowledge about sustainable practices and the value of biodiversity. By blending traditional art forms with contemporary ecological themes, Burkinabé artists inspire communities to take ownership of conservation efforts and reimagine their relationship with the environment.
Salifoura Harmony, Ousmane Koula, and Hamed Ouattara are environmental artists from Burkina Faso that I met on my second trip. Unfortunately, and sadly, both Salifoura and Ousmane were taken from us too young. It’s painful as a friend and artist to think of them gone, and before they completed their work. Not only were they great humans and friends, but they deeply cared about the environment and encouraged me in my creations. Hamed paints, but also uses gas drums and other environmentally dangerous materials and garbage to create beautiful furniture.
These artistic endeavors resonate beyond Burkina Faso, connecting global audiences to the environmental challenges. Through exhibitions and collaborations, Burkinabé environmental artists highlight the universal significance of biodiversity, emphasizing that the fight for ecological balance is a shared responsibility.
Parallels to Diversity and Water Issues in the United States
The ecological challenges faced by Burkina Faso may seem distant from those in the U.S., but there are striking parallels that reveal shared struggles and opportunities for cross-cultural learning. In the U.S., issues of biodiversity and water scarcity often intersect with questions of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Diverse voices play a crucial role in shaping conservation narratives and advocating for environmental justice. Indigenous communities, for example, have long been stewards of biodiversity, managing ecosystems sustainably through traditional ecological knowledge. Their efforts to protect sacred lands, preserve water resources, and restore wildlife habitats are not only vital for conservation but also for cultural survival.
Leo and Denise Sawadogo, founders of Montclair Brewery, bridge water usage in the U.S. and ingredients from Burkina Faso to make beer. They were the first Black-owned brewery in New Jersey and Black, African & Caribbean-owned brewery with a production facility in the New York tri-state area. As a brewer originally from Burkina Faso, Leo uses grains, fruits, and ingredients from there to enhance not only the taste of the beer he brews, but it’s healthier also. The baobab tree is known as the tree of life, and the fruit brings beers like Baobiere and Black is Beautiful Stout with Baobab to life.
Organizations have worked to ensure that conservation efforts address systemic inequities, promoting a more inclusive approach to environmental protection.
Similarly, environmental justice movements led by communities of color have brought attention to the disproportionate impacts of pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change on marginalized populations. Organizations have worked to ensure that conservation efforts address systemic inequities, promoting a more inclusive approach to environmental protection. This work has already been difficult, but the beginning of the second Trump administration is lending even more challenges.
Water issues in the United States mirror the scarcity and inequities observed in Burkina Faso, albeit in a different context. In the western U.S., prolonged droughts and overuse of water resources have led to significant challenges, including water shortages, wildfires, and agricultural stress. Meanwhile, communities in states like Michigan and Mississippi, and indigenous reservations, face water pollution crises that disproportionately affect low-income and minority populations.
The Flint water crisis and COVID-19 on Indigenous reservations, for example, exposed the systemic neglect of marginalized communities when it comes to access to clean and safe drinking water. Indigenous-led efforts to protect water rights, such as the protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline, highlight the ongoing struggle to safeguard water as a vital resource and cultural cornerstone.
Art as a Connector
Environmental art in the U.S. has also emerged as a powerful medium to address biodiversity and water issues. Because I got involved in water access and preservation in Burkina Faso, I wanted to know about the water status in Minnesota. I live one block from the mighty Mississippi River and two hours from where it starts, but I wouldn’t drink the water.
Through the Central Minnesota Water Education Alliance, I built a partnership with the City of St Cloud to pilot a storm drain mural program. Working with the community and students of various ages, backgrounds, and experiences, the murals we created had diverse voices and representations. This led to ownership of the storm drains, and the impact of that was, they took care of the space. Students clean garbage and foreign objects so they don’t go down the drains to the river and to our local drinking source.
The parallels between Burkina Faso and the U.S. are evident in the way art amplifies the voices of underrepresented communities and highlights the urgent need for collective action
The artwork I and other artists create engages communities in discussions about water quality and conservation. These works emphasize the interconnectedness of ecological and social challenges, fostering dialogue across diverse audiences. The parallels between Burkina Faso and the U.S. are evident in the way art amplifies the voices of underrepresented communities and highlights the urgent need for collective action. By bringing environmental and social issues to the forefront, artists in both regions challenge audiences to rethink their roles as stewards of the planet.
Interconnected Lessons
Despite their geographic and cultural differences, Burkina Faso and the U.S. share common challenges related to biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and the need for inclusive solutions. Both countries demonstrate the importance of community-driven approaches that integrate traditional knowledge, modern science, and artistic expression.
From Burkina Faso’s agroforestry projects to the U.S.’s indigenous-led conservation efforts, the lessons are clear: ecological resilience requires collaboration and creativity. Environmental art serves as a universal language, bridging gaps between cultures and fostering a deeper understanding of our shared responsibility to protect the planet. It helps make a large issue digestible for one person to know their actions make a difference. However, artists and environmental organizations can’t do this work alone.
These interconnected struggles highlight the importance of addressing systemic inequities in environmental policymaking. Public, private, and government entities need to work together with resources and policies to bring real and lasting change. By amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and prioritizing sustainable practices, both Burkina Faso and the U.S. can pave the way for a more equitable and ecologically balanced future.
Biodiversity in Burkina Faso, environmental art, and the water and diversity challenges in the U.S. reveal a common thread: the need for collective action to address ecological and social injustices. By learning from each other’s experiences, these regions can inspire global audiences to take meaningful steps toward conservation and equity.
Together, we can envision a world where ecosystems and cultures thrive in harmony, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come
Art, as a unifying force, reminds us of our shared humanity and interconnected ecosystems. As we confront the challenges of climate change, resource depletion, and social inequity, we must embrace creativity, inclusivity, and collaboration. Together, we can envision a world where ecosystems and cultures thrive in harmony, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
Sarah Drake, MS, is an award-winning artist, author-illustrator, teaching artist, and humanitarian in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. She was a 2024 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award winner for her community service. Sarah has a Master of Science degree in Social Responsibility from St. Cloud State University. Drake is the founder and CEO of herARTS in Action, an international nonprofit whose mission is to create an equitable world through increased access and social justice with art. She is also a mother to a multiethnic daughter, who inspires her passion to make the world a more equitable and just place for all.
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