Burkina Faso was hit by drought and famine in the 1970s. After the disaster, a number of questions arose. How are environmental planning and famine connected? Is it possible to manage natural resources effectively while restructuring the economy? Research by the University of Roskilde examines these issues in connection with the 1994 National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP). The results of the study cast doubt on some aspects of Burkina Faso’s environmental policy.