Climate-Driven Migration and Land Use Conflicts in Rural Liberia: Evidence from Grand Gedeh County

Mohammed W Bah

Across West Africa, escalating drought, desertification, and declining agricultural productivity are pushing rural populations to migrate in search of fertile land. This study investigates climate-driven migration from Burkina Faso to rural Liberia and its implications for land use, governance, and peacebuilding in Grand Gedeh County, with comparative work planned in Nimba. Using 125 surveys (51 Burkinabe migrants, 74 Liberian residents) and 14 stakeholder interviews (government, traditional leaders, NGOs, religious actors, journalists), we examine how environmental change, mobility, and fragile tenure systems intersect to produce both conflict and opportunities for cooperation. Findings show that climate pressures are overwhelming drivers of migration: drought, desertification, and agricultural decline were rated “very” or “extremely important” by more than 90% of Burkinabe respondents; 93% of all respondents observed land-use disputes. Despite these tensions, communities report widespread efforts to integrate migrants, primarily through joint meetings, and express relatively high trust in traditional and religious leaders as mediators.