CONTRIBUTION OF REMOTE SENSING IN THE EVALUATION OF FOREST
DYNAMICS ON THE SLOPES OF
Kah1, M. Tchindjang1, F.V. Menga1,
1 - The
2 - The
Forests cover about 40% of the earth’s
surface. To this, tropical humid forest constitutes 60 million hectares.
The lower altitudes of the Mount Cameroon Region undergo radical changes in forest cover. These changes are linked to the creation of vast plantations of the CDC, the opening of new crop farms and other cash crops such as cocoa and the extension of settlements. Besides these, volcanic eruptions which have a frequency of at least 1 time in every 11 years also induce major changes mostly on the forest cover. These changes thus constitute a preoccupation of the Cameroonian Government to interrogate on the factors and the rate of these modifications.
The rate of deforestation is analysed in terms of biodiversity destruction and the danger that lava flow poses during volcanic eruptions. This study emphasizes on the evolution of deforestation between 1986 and 2000, done through Remote Sensing. The study with the results realised tries to throw more light on the quantitative change mentioned above. The work demonstrates the extent of forest degradation which is in an irrational manner and which; given the demographic growth, risks becoming irreversible if conservative measure are not reinforced.