Spatio-temporal dynamics of land use in the municipality of Tori-Bossito in southern Benin

Abstract

The municipality of Tori-Bossito in southern Benin has been experiencing a change in its natural environment for several decades. It is important to understand it for a better development. The purpose of this study is to analyze the spatio-temporal dynamics of land use in this municipality from 1990 to 2018. The method adopted is based on the diachronic analysis of land use from Landsat images of 1990, 2000 and sentinel 2A of 2018. The cartographic results allowed the establishment of land use maps of the municipality and to carry out area calculations and curves. The analysis of the dynamics of land use shows an evolutionary trend of essentially regressive plant formations. The portions of fields and fallow land under palm trees fell from 22,409 ha in 1990 to 2,026 ha in 2018, i.e. a regression rate of 62.14%. On the other hand, crop and fallow mosaics increased from 9,213 ha in 1990 to 27,611 ha in 2018 with a growth rate of 55.09%. The agglomerations varied from 316 ha in 1990 to 2082 ha in 2018 or 5.38%. All this leads to a change in the landscape. The factors of this degradation are the increase in population, the development of agricultural activities especially the production of pineapple, the proximity of the commune to the economic capital of Benin and the establishment of adequate road infrastructure.