Anthropisation et dynamique des paysages en zone soudanienne au nord du Bénin

• Main Authors: Mama, A., Sinsin, B., De Cannière, C., Bogaert, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux 2013-01-01
• Series: Tropicultura
• Subjects: Sudanian zone; Landsat; Configuration metrics; Fragmentation; Anthropogenic effects
• Online Access: http://www.tropicultura.org/text/v31n1/78.pdf
• ISSN: 0771-3312

Anthropogenic Effects and Landscape Dynamics in the Soudanian Zone of North Benin. The temporal dynamics of landscapes in the Sudanian zone of North Benin (West Africa) were studied through a diachronic analysis of three Landsat images (MSS 1972, TM 1986, and ETM+ 2006), supported by field visits. The results indicate that the forest cover was reduced from 25.3% in 1972 to 8.8% in 2006. This decrease of forest area went together with a loss of savannah area. On the other hand, agricultural areas increased up to 28.4% over the same period. Landscape pattern analysis by means of configuration metrics revealed a fragmentation of natural and seminatural vegetation by agricultural activities, leading to an aggregation of agricultural patches. As general trend, human activities and demographic growth have caused significant changes to the landscapes of the study region.