Assessing forest change in a priority West African mangrove ecosystem: 1986–2010

摘要: Abstract This study examines the areal extent and status of mangrove forests in a West African region prioritized contemporary conservation, climate change, livelihood initiatives. The focus is transnational western coastal section Gambia Senegal located between Casamance Rivers. Remote sensing applied to Landsat images interfluvial 1986 2010 indicates 35% decline overall coverage for area with sub-regions pronounced loss. There was 12% along south bank lower River 43% decrease Gambian border River. Mangrove loss reached 92% northern international Gambia. Fieldwork suggests that over period part driven by growing firewood demand urban centers. remote-sensing analysis, complemented fieldwork region, attributes negative trends firewood, political instability Casamance, porous facilitates illegal cutting smuggling.