In a context of global changes which disrupt the living conditions of the breeders of the sudanese and sahelo sudanese zone, what decisions do they take, what are their seasonal strategies of adaptation on a local and regional scale, how they implement them? It is this triple question that this thesis tries to answer in the context of Kotchari area situated at the border of the vast reserve of W transboundary biosphere and subjected to a strong anthropological pressure. Every year, from December, numerous transhumants breeders from the North come together in Kotchari territory at the extreme southeastern part of Burkina Faso, in the province of Tapoa. Locally, the pressure on lands and resources is becoming more and more high and the sustainability of the system seem to be compromised. The research is done using methods of mapping / GIS, floral analysis, quantitative and qualitative survey mostly participative. The research showed that, despite the important animal influx in particular during the dry and warm season, the forage resources of the territory remain interesting with however a local extinction of species, an important species disappearance and the beginning of shrub vegetation development in particular on the tray pastoral landscaped units situated outside the protected area. Four (4) breeders groups and subgroups were recognized according to their strategies and practices implemented. It comes out that the herd size is a determinant factor in the strategy of the breeders. The research showed that the local categorization of environments is based on topographic, geo morphological and functional criteria, and that the pasturelands quality appreciation depends on factors of variable importance according to the seasons. Finally, it is possible to understand the behavior of the herds in the pasturelands that is the practical translation of the technical knowledge implemented by the breeders to make exploit the pasturelands by their herds.
