Articles
SPATIO-TEMPORAL DYNAMICS OF LAND OCCUPATION, URBANIZATION AND URBAN AGRICULTURE ON THE ALLADA PLATEAU IN SOUTHERN BENIN
Article number
1021_8
Pages
91 – 100
Language
English
Abstract
This article aims to assess the spatio-temporal dynamics of land occupation, urbanization and urban agriculture on the Allada Plateau in southern Benin.
The Allada Plateau is a well-known rural area that produces fruits and vegetables for the major cities in Benin.
However, the increasing pressure from human settlement is a real threat for farming activities in this region.
In order to understand the phenomenon of spatio-temporal dynamics of land occupation, map projections for the following years are presented: 1959, 1972, 1992 and 2006. A rapid diagnosis of plot ownership by group makes it possible to clearly see how land is currently being utilized.
Basic ownership and water usage units remained stable.
Declining ecosystem units are rain and semi-evergreen rain forests and palm oil crop rotation; increasing units are crops, fallow land, industrial plantation of teak, palm oil, fruit trees and built-up areas.
A new form of peri urban farming activities representing 13.61% of the total area is emerging.
In the context of new land ownership, tree planting stabilizes the land, raises money and provides shade.
Natural resource consumers, urbanization and preservation and/or protection of natural resources are not necessarily in conflict.
However, the inclusion of urban agriculture and afforestation in urban planning has become a challenge for the sustainable development of urban expansion.
The Allada Plateau is a well-known rural area that produces fruits and vegetables for the major cities in Benin.
However, the increasing pressure from human settlement is a real threat for farming activities in this region.
In order to understand the phenomenon of spatio-temporal dynamics of land occupation, map projections for the following years are presented: 1959, 1972, 1992 and 2006. A rapid diagnosis of plot ownership by group makes it possible to clearly see how land is currently being utilized.
Basic ownership and water usage units remained stable.
Declining ecosystem units are rain and semi-evergreen rain forests and palm oil crop rotation; increasing units are crops, fallow land, industrial plantation of teak, palm oil, fruit trees and built-up areas.
A new form of peri urban farming activities representing 13.61% of the total area is emerging.
In the context of new land ownership, tree planting stabilizes the land, raises money and provides shade.
Natural resource consumers, urbanization and preservation and/or protection of natural resources are not necessarily in conflict.
However, the inclusion of urban agriculture and afforestation in urban planning has become a challenge for the sustainable development of urban expansion.
Authors
C.C. Tossou, A.B. Floquet , B.A. Sinsin
Keywords
strategic communal natural resource management scheme, housing estate, sustainable development, urban horticulture
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