TITLE:
Identification of Environmental Changes and Land Use in the Lagoon Ecosystems of Togo Southeastern
AUTHORS:
Ahlonko Koffi Bruce, Selifa Sama, Kouami Kokou
KEYWORDS:
Lagoon Ecosystem, Environmental Change, Land Use, Togo
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.2 No.10,
October
21,
2015
ABSTRACT: In the context of climate change and
ecological disruptions, this study focuses on the diagnosis of the changes
taking place in the microtidal environment of the Southeast lagoon ecosystems
of Togo. To do this, a diachronic analysis of soil classification occupation of
two Land sat satellite images (TM and ETM 1986 to 2011) was performed with
ground verification. This analysis on two dates revealed the successive states
to characterize the main environmental changes that have affected the lagoon
ecosystems. The results revealed significant changes both natural and anthropogenic
who achieved water resources and their buffer zones, plant cover and the frame
of the study area. During 25 years, terrestrial vegetation around wetlands
decreased by 26.28% and aquatic plants showed a surface increase of 13.2%. This
study is a knowledge contribution to the lagoon ecosystems state in Togo
through an ecological analysis which reveals some environmental changes in
order to anticipate the loss of ecosystem goods and services of these wetlands.