Dynamique paysagère de la Forêt Classée de la Lama au sud du Bénin

Abstract

Landscape Dynamics of the Classified Forest of Lama in Southern Benin. The Lama (South Benin) classified forest has undergone profound changes as a result of the restoration and conservation efforts that need to be quantified using landscape ecology techniques and phytosociology. Aiming to map land cover and to evaluate landscape dynamics we assessed two Landsat images (2000 Landsat ETM+ and 2015 Landsat OLI TIRS), using transition matrix and decision tree algorithm model. Phytosociological inventories were carried out to assess the conservation status of the classified forest from 80 records on a transect of 50 m long and 10 m wide. Analyzes show that in 2015 the forest covers 27.85% of the landscape compared with 8.02% in 2000, to the detriment of anthropogenic classes after management. The main spatial transformation processes in the landscape were aggregation, creation and attrition. Phytosociological classification showed two physiognomic vegetation groups based on 192 species. These groups are specifically diversified with the predominance of species from the Guinea-Congolese base-element which confirms acceptable conditions in the forest.

Keywords

• Landscape
• Dynamics
• Structural indexes
• Restauration
• Lama forest
• Benin