Spatio-Temporal Analysis of the Remote Sensing Ecological Index – A Case Study of the Favorable Agro-Ecological Zone in Northwest Morocco

Abstract

Agriculture has traditionally been one of Morocco's most important industries, providing the largest percentage of the nation's GDP (Gross Domestic Product). However, over the past two decades, the frequency and severity of Morocco's droughts have grown. These climate changes have a direct impact on essential crops in the country. Exploring the geographical and temporal evolution of the ecological quality is thus critical for the conservation of the natural environment. To achieve this, the present study attempted to evaluate seasonally the environmental quality in the most favorable agro-ecologic zone in Morocco, using remote sensing data, in the years 2001, 2011, and 2021. An index was created, called Remote Sensing Environmental Index (RSEI), which combines four ecological indicators, related to vegetation, humidity, heat, and dryness aspects. The results indicate that from 2011 to 2021, the RSEI values deteriorated the greatest, particularly during the winter months. In addition, vegetation and humidity were the parameters most affecting the RSEI index. Thus, the key drivers of the improvement in the environmental quality are the establishment of ecological policies, rules, and actions to maintain a sustainable environmental development.

Keywords

• remote sensing environmental index (rsei)
• gis
• remote sensing
• principal components analysis (pca)
• statistical methods
• agro-ecologic zone
• environmental sustainability