The management of natural resources is a main driver for the emergence of conflicts in the rural environment of Burkina Faso. It is at the origin of many incidents. Those are particularly frequent in areas in which migrant shepherds seek space and pasture. The coexistence of those migrants with the local indigenous population, which follows traditional agro-pastoral methods, is at the origin of most of the numerous conflicts. In order to understand the situation and find solutions, studies were undertaken in selected villages in the southwestern part of Burkina Faso in 2002 and 2003. Based on participatory observation, surveys and individual as well as collective semi-structured interviews, local vectors of conflict resolution were analyzed. It was found that conflicts over resource access, use and control were of such complexity that their resolution is non obvious, at a local as well as an administrative level. Nevertheless, it was observed that producers are able to solve conflicts of interest at a local level.