TITLE:
The Impact of Urban Expansion in Saidia on Urban Forests: A Case Study of Tazgrarte Forest
AUTHORS:
Adil Akallouch, Souad Tannouch Bennani, Mohamed Hamjik, Hossain Boudilab, Aziz Mahjoub
KEYWORDS:
Urban Forests, Urban Expansion, Tazgrarte Forest, Saidia, Development
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.12 No.2,
February
25,
2025
ABSTRACT: As of 2005, the city of Saidia has undergone substantial urban expansion, which has led to the Tazgrarte Forest, a major urban green space, not just for the citizens but also for tourists alike, to decline in urban forests. In this regard, this research aims to assess the differences in the forest cover of Tazgrarte Forest from the period of 2005-2025, concentrating on the impact of urban expansion at three critical points in time: 2005, 2015 and 2025. Forested area reduction and urban growth dynamics were examined using satellite images and Geographic Information Systems (GISs). The conclusions reveal that uncontrolled urban sprawl has been principally responsible for the growth of space deserts, which does not bode well for the environment and the existing ecological balance. On the basis of these results, we seek the program of reconstruction for the Tazgarte Forest within the broader context of a sustainable urban development strategy that aims to preserve and enhance the few remaining metabolisms of the city.