Anthropogenic Disturbance Factors in the Ouémé Supérieur Classified Forest in Northern Benin

Carlo Sodalo (), Kouagou Raoul Sambiéni, Olivia Lovanirina Rakotondrasoa, Héritier Khoji Muteya, Charles Mumbere Musavalando, Didier Mbarushimana, Nadège Cizungu Cirezi, Edouard Gbozo, Cléophace Bayumbasire Citawa, Arcadius Yves Justin Akossou and Jan Bogaert
Additional contact information
Carlo Sodalo: Ecole Régionale Postuniversitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kouagou Raoul Sambiéni: Ecole Régionale Postuniversitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Olivia Lovanirina Rakotondrasoa: Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Agronomiques, Université d’Antananarivo, Mention Foresterie et Environnement, Ambohitsaina 101, Antananarivo P.O. Box 175, Madagascar
Héritier Khoji Muteya: Unité Biodiversité et Paysage, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Charles Mumbere Musavalando: Ecole Régionale Postuniversitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Didier Mbarushimana: Ecole Doctorale de l’Université du Burundi, Université du Burundi, Bujumbura P.O. Box 1550, Burundi
Nadège Cizungu Cirezi: Ecole Régionale Postuniversitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Edouard Gbozo: Unité de Statistiques et d’Informatique Appliquée (USIA), Laboratoire d’Ecologie et de Recherches Forestières (LERF), Université de Parakou, Parakou P.O. Box 123, Benin
Cléophace Bayumbasire Citawa: Ecole Régionale Postuniversitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Arcadius Yves Justin Akossou: Ecole Régionale Postuniversitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Jan Bogaert: Unité Biodiversité et Paysage, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-17

Abstract: The increasing dependence of rural communities on forest resources contributes significantly to deforestation and ecosystem degradation in West Africa. The Ouémé Supérieur Classified Forest (OSCF), one of Benin’s largest forest reserves, is under growing anthropogenic pressure. This study assessed the spatial distribution and relationships between key degradation drivers (anthropogenic disturbances)—logging, agriculture, charcoal production, fire, and grazing—in the OSCF. Field inventories were conducted in 300 plots of 500 m 2 each, organized across 15 transects. Data were analyzed using presence/absence indices, frequency calculations, Friedman tests, simple correspondence analysis, and linear regressions. Results showed that disturbances are unevenly distributed across the forest. Logging and agriculture emerged as the most frequent pressures, with agricultural activities strongly associated with transects near densely populated villages. Regression analysis revealed a relatively strong correlation between distance from edge to the interior of the forest and agricultural area (adjusted R 2 = 0.61). Logging and fire-related activities are concentrated at the forest edge, while agriculture expanded toward the interior. Logging is present in all plots sampled. Chi-square tests revealed significant associations between agriculture, charcoal production, and fire. These findings highlight the complex and interlinked nature of the anthropogenic disturbances and underscore the need for locally tailored, participatory forest management strategies.

Keywords: forest degradation; anthropogenic disturbances; ouémé supérieur classified forest; participatory forest management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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