Change Monitoring and Assessment of Land Use and Land Cover for the Municipality of Ouessè in Benin by the Modules for Land Use Change Evaluation Plugin

Assessing land use and land cover (LULC) changes is crucial in sub-Saharan Africa due to population growth and land degradation, emphasizing the significance of effective land use planning and management. In this study, the authors used the modules for land use change simulations plugin within the quantum geographic information system software to analyze and predict LULC change in the Ouessè municipality. The authors used Landsat images and a cellular automata-artificial neural network model to predict future LULC scenarios. Major LULC categories included woodlands, agricultural land, plantations, and rock domes. Changes in these categories were observed between 1986 and 2019, with predictions showing further shifts until 2049. This approach allowed for a detailed and accurate assessment of changes over time, providing valuable insights into land use dynamics in the study area. Smart agriculture and livestock technologies, along with effective business models, are needed to achieve a sustainable balance between human activities and natural resources.