Physio-Géo (Sep 2022)

Dynamique de l'occupation du sol et trajectoire du couvert végétal autour de trois sites miniers du Sud Mali entre 1988 et 2019

  • Souleymane Sidi Traore,
  • Sidi Dembele,
  • Djénéba Dembele,
  • Nouhoum Diakite,
  • Cheick Hamalla Diakite

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4000/physio-geo.14565
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17
pp. 151 – 166

Abstract

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Gold mining operations generate various environmental impacts that must be spatially measured. The objective of this research is to determine the dynamics of land use and the change in plant cover in three mining sites. Landsat images from two periods (pre-mine and current) were used. A maximum likelihood classification method coupled with a change detection algorithm was to determine the extent and changes of land use and land cover classes. The NDVI values calculated from the images were classified into six classes, five with density levels ranging from very low to very high and one negative without vegetation. STUDENT two samples t test was used to compare the NDVI values randomly extracted on 30 points. The results show strong dynamics of land cover classes. This dynamic is characterised by the conversion of dense vegetation space into slightly covered soil, agricultural area and bare soil. During the same period, the vegetation cover considerably lost its vitality indicating the degradation trend. The comparison of NDVI values extracted randomly confirms this loss of quality of the vegetation cover. This research concludes that the vegetation cover in the three mining sites has undergone severe degradation.

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