ABSTRACT
The reasons to migrate or to stay in areas affected by environmental changes in the West African Sahel are manifold. Environmental stressors are only one driver of migration in the region that is less important than often presumed. This chapter provides a brief summary of the main findings of the book and gives an outlook on the linkages between environmental change and migration in the future. It highlights why it is important that future research on the environment-migration nexus consider individual preferences and aspirations, people’s capabilities to choose between migrating and staying, as well as broader social transformation processes that may increase or mitigate people’s vulnerability to environmental stressors. The chapter also offers recommendations for policy makers on how to limit the impact of climate change and environmental stressors on people’s livelihoods and migration.
