Dynamique du couvert végétal à Bassila au nord Bénin pendant et après la mise en œuvre d’un projet d’aménagement forestier

Abstract

In a context of recurrence of deforestation, the objective of this study was to assess the impact of the Bassila Forest Resource Restoration Project (PRRF) on vegetation cover dynamics over a 30 year period (1986-2017) in the Commune of Bassila in the north of Benin. The research question addressed is: has the implementation of PRRF favored the conservation of the Bassila forest resources? Remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were used to evaluate vegetation cover dynamics during the project (1986-2003) and after the project (2003-2017). Between 1986 and 2017, the forest areas in the PRRF intervention area increased slightly (5.1% to 6%). Nevertheless, we notice that in fact, the forests first doubled in size during the implementation of the PRRF (5.1% to 11%) and then disappeared by half after the end of the PRRF (11% to 6%). Although the project implementation promoted the restoration of forest resources in the Commune of Bassila, its end seems to have been unfavorable to the conservation of these resources. Therefore, it is necessary to develop follow-up conservation efforts for the sustainable management of forest resources.