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Authors:
Brice SevegniTCHAOU, Calixte HOUSSOU, Jose Edgard GNELE, Odile DOSSOU GUEDEGBE, Benin
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Abstract:
The population explosion and the intensification of economic activities have led populations to occupy the land in different ways and for different reasons. The objective of the study is to determine the explanatory factors of the dynamics of the land occupation in the municipality of Djidja. The research methodology is based on data collection, manual and statistical processing of data and analysis of results. Surveys are made from 271 heads or representatives of households and resource persons. From this field work, it appears that the expansion of charcoal and firewood production activities is widespread throughout the municipality of Djidja. The total annual production of wood for the whole commune is 113 91, 2704 m3 of wood which corresponds to 50,889,515 kg equivalent of wood, or 175,203,222 tons of wood equivalent. The factors of land-use dynamics are natural, socio-economic and political. The evaluation of the dynamics of the land occupation in Djidja Commune in 1986, 2000 and 2016 revealed a regression of natural formations in favor of mosaics of fields and fallows and agglomerations even inside the two classified forests of Atcherigbe, Dan and the communal forest of Kolobi which practically no longer exists. Deforestation and extensive degradation of vegetation occur in these forests and deserve special attention. The practice of activities such as agriculture, livestock, logging has been indexed to explain the degradation of natural formations in the Kolobi forest. This forest is mainly exploited by the population mainly for wood energy and secondarily for timber. In the locality of Kolobi and surroundings, 54% of those surveyed use forest resources as firewood or charcoal. With respect to softwood lumber, there are 33% of those surveyed who use these woods. While 10% of those surveyed are looking for species for handicrafts.
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