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Research Article
Spatio-temporal Evolution of Land User and Changes in Dense Dry Forests in the Municipality of Santhiaba Manjaque in Lower Casamance (Southern Senegal)
Issue:
Volume 15, Issue 1, February 2026
Pages:
1-11
Received:
24 November 2025
Accepted:
15 December 2025
Published:
16 January 2026
Abstract: In Senegal, forest ecosystems have faced increasing pressure in recent decades. These pressures, both natural and anthropogenic, lead to observable changes in the forest landscape. Lower Casamance, the only site that hosts the country’s last remaining relics of dry dense forests, is not spared. The nature and the intensity of these changes affecting the dry dense forests remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to assess the dynamics of the dry dense forests in the township of Santhiaba Manjaque and to explain their causes. A diachronic analysis of Landsat satellite data was carried out and the supervised classification approach using the maximum likelihood method was chosen to discriminate classes and produce land cover maps for 1988, 2006, and 2024. Transition matrices were used to highlight the changes undergone by the different land cover units. The results showed a significant trend marked by an increase in the surface areas of dry dense forests and woody savannah, with 855.27 and 575.37 hectares respectively between 1988 and 2024. Conversely, a sharp decrease was observed in shrub savanna, with a loss of 771.47 hectares. Furthermore, the creation of change maps revealed that from 1988 to 2024, 628.54 ha of woody savannah and 452.16 ha of shrub savannah were converted into dry dense forests. The ongoing spatial transformations in the township of Santhiaba Manjaque include modifications recorded within the different vegetation formations and conversions between the classes of natural vegetation formations and the other land cover units. This study helped to shed light on the ongoing spatial transformation processes in the landscape of the township of Santhiaba Manjaque and to determine indicators that can serve as a basis for the management and conservation of forest resources in Senegal.
Abstract: In Senegal, forest ecosystems have faced increasing pressure in recent decades. These pressures, both natural and anthropogenic, lead to observable changes in the forest landscape. Lower Casamance, the only site that hosts the country’s last remaining relics of dry dense forests, is not spared. The nature and the intensity of these changes affectin...
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Research Article
Value Recovery of Septage Through Compost Production from Septage and Household Waste: Case of the Urban Municipality of Mamou, Guinea
Issue:
Volume 15, Issue 1, February 2026
Pages:
12-18
Received:
11 December 2025
Accepted:
30 December 2025
Published:
20 January 2026
Abstract: The management of septic sludge and household waste is a major challenge for cities in Guinea in general, and for the urban commune of Mamou in particular. The sanitation sector is very poorly structured, characterized by the predominance of independent facilities and the absence of regulation for emptying services. This study aims to carry out a trial for the valorization of these types of waste produced in the urban commune of Mamou. The methodology consisted of collecting the substrates (septic sludge and household waste). Then, a sampling of 34 kg of each type of waste was done for co-composting. The substrate composting process lasted 40 days; the quantities of compost produced were evaluated. The different substrates produced respectively 23.3 kg of compost for concentrated septic sludge, or 68.52%, with 10.7 kg of residue, or 31.47%. The household waste substrates produced 22.65 kg of compost, or 66.62%; with a amount of residue of 11.35 kg, or 33.38%. Co-composting (septic sludge with household waste) produced 28.69 kg of compost, or 84.38%, with a residue amount of 5.31 kg, or 15.61%. The curves showing the variation in composting temperature for the three types of substrates (septic sludge, household waste, and septic sludge + household waste) each display three phases (initial, short thermophilic, and stabilization). The results obtained show that co-composting the substrates is the most suitable method for valorizing septic sludge in the context of sustainable organic waste management in Mamou.
Abstract: The management of septic sludge and household waste is a major challenge for cities in Guinea in general, and for the urban commune of Mamou in particular. The sanitation sector is very poorly structured, characterized by the predominance of independent facilities and the absence of regulation for emptying services. This study aims to carry out a t...
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Review Article
Temperature–Precipitation Interactions in Upper Guinea: Evidence of Significant Climate Warming
Issue:
Volume 15, Issue 1, February 2026
Pages:
19-29
Received:
26 November 2025
Accepted:
30 December 2025
Published:
27 January 2026
Abstract: Upper Guinea, located between the Sahelian and forest climates of West Africa, is particularly vulnerable to climate change. The region is experiencing an intensification of climatic extremes, characterized by increased precipitation variability and a gradual rise in temperatures, impacting ecosystems, water resources, and agriculture. This study analyzes temperature-precipitation interactions to better understand regional climate dynamics and anticipate hydrometeorological risks. Monthly satellite data from the CHIRTS (minimum and maximum temperatures) product (Climate Hazards InfraRed Temperature with Stations – Daily) and CHIRPS (precipitation) product (Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data) datasets covering 1986–2015 were used. Three methodological approaches were employed: monthly climatology, interannual trends, and Pearson correlation. Results show strong seasonality, with peak precipitation in August (~350 mm, ~29°C) and maximum temperatures reaching 38.5°C during the dry season. Precipitation exhibits interannual variability with no significant trend, while temperatures increase (+0.03°C per years). The trong correlation between minimum and maximum temperatures (r = 0.78) contrasts with weak negative correlations with rainfall (r ≈ -0.1), suggesting that the rise in temperatures is associated with a tendency toward decreasing rainfall. These highlight the complexity of local climate interactions and the urgent need to strengthen monitoring, seasonal forecasting, and agroclimatic adaptation.
Abstract: Upper Guinea, located between the Sahelian and forest climates of West Africa, is particularly vulnerable to climate change. The region is experiencing an intensification of climatic extremes, characterized by increased precipitation variability and a gradual rise in temperatures, impacting ecosystems, water resources, and agriculture. This study a...
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Research Article
Deforestation Dynamics and Ecological Consequences in the Dry Dense Deciduous Forests of Belindo-Mahasoa (Bekily, Southern Madagascar)
Tinahindraza Mampionona Albertin*
,
Tsiorisoa Harempahasoavana,
Romuald Ramanantsoavina,
Razakamanana Théodore
Issue:
Volume 15, Issue 1, February 2026
Pages:
30-38
Received:
17 December 2025
Accepted:
26 December 2025
Published:
31 January 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajep.20261501.14
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Abstract: The dry Dry deciduous forests in southern Madagascar are among the country’s most vulnerable ecosystems, increasingly threatened by expanding anthropogenic pressures., These forest formations are among the most heavily affected by deforestation, driven by agricultural expansion, charcoal production and timber extraction, leading to a continuous decline in forest cover. How have spatio-temporal deforestation dynamics between 2015 and 2025 altered forest cover, fragmentation, and ecological resilience in Belindo-Mahasoa, and what sustainable management responses are required to ensure long-term conservation efforts locally?. In the commune of Belindo-Mahasoa, located in the Bekily district, a spatio-temporal analysis of forest cover between 2015 and 2025 reveals a pronounced deforestation dynamic, marked by substantial reductions in wooded areas and increased landscape fragmentation. This pattern reflects a broader regional trend of rapid ecological degradation in southern Malagasy dry forests under increasing land-use pressures. Although small patches of vegetation recovery have emerged, largely linked to recent local restoration initiatives, their extent remains limited compared to the magnitude of forest loss. Overall, the findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen sustainable management strategies and restoration efforts to safeguard the essential ecological functions of these dry deciduous forests, whose resilience appears increasingly compromised. Thus, this article aims to provide recommendations to support conservation efforts and strengthen sustainable management strategies in order to safeguard the essential ecological functions of these dry deciduous forests.
Abstract: The dry Dry deciduous forests in southern Madagascar are among the country’s most vulnerable ecosystems, increasingly threatened by expanding anthropogenic pressures., These forest formations are among the most heavily affected by deforestation, driven by agricultural expansion, charcoal production and timber extraction, leading to a continuous dec...
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