Strengthening the Protection and Management of Classified Forests and Agricultural Land in Senegal through the Combined Use of Remote Sensing and GIS

Abstract

Senegal, like many developing countries, is facing rapid and often uncontrolled urbanization, particularly in areas with high economic stakes such as Dakar. This situation is putting increasing pressure on agricultural land and classified forests. This urban expansion therefore threatens food security, biodiversity, and the country’s socio-economic balance and, as a result, does not promote the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), which aims to promote better spatial planning and urban resilience, and SDG 15 (Life on Land), which aims to preserve biodiversity and the sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems. This article aims to analyze the effects of urbanization on agricultural land and classified forests using remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GISs) tools for the sustainable and proactive management of these vital land resources. The study is based on a methodological approach combining temporal analysis of satellite images (Landsat 7 and 8), spatial processing tools, grid modeling, and field surveys conducted with institutional and community stakeholders. It was applied in three areas of the Dakar region: the urban center of Diamniadio, the Tivaouane Peulh area, and the ecologically sensitive areas of the Mbao classified forest and the shores of Lake Rose. The results show a marked increase in built-up areas at the expense of agricultural and forest areas. These changes are often facilitated by a lack of rigorous planning, arbitrary declassifications, and opaque land governance. In response to this situation, the study proposes recommendations based on three pillars: technological innovation (GIS, remote sensing), legal reinforcement, and inclusive governance (community GIS, participatory tools). This work is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and shows how the tools used enable better monitoring of land use changes, better planning in land use policies, strengthened land governance, urban resilience, and biodiversity preservation to reconcile urban development and ecosystem preservation in Senegal.