Three Decades of Vegetation Dynamics in the Fathala Classified Forest of the Delta du Saloum National Park, Senegal

Deforestation is one of the major threats to biodiversity conservation, particularly in tropical ecosystems. Senegal, like many African countries, has experienced substantial changes in vegetation cover due to increasing anthropogenic and environmental pressures. This study aimed to (i) assess the vegetation dynamics in the Fathala classified forest between 1992 and 2022, and (ii) identify the main drivers of these changes. Land cover dynamics were analysed using Landsat satellite images acquired in 1992, 2000, 2010 and 2022, complemented by surveys of local residents to identify the underlying causes of vegetation changes. Five vegetation strata were identified: degraded gallery forest, woodland, woody savannah, tree savannah and shrub savannah. All vegetation formations experienced a decline over the 30-year study period. Gallery forest experienced the most severe degradation, nearly disappearing between 1992 and 2000, with further changes observed since 2000. Overall, 2,179.89 ha of vegetation remained stable, 1,541.69 ha were converted to non-vegetated land uses, and 3,470.37 ha experienced degradation while remaining within the same vegetation class. Surveys identified logging and bush fires as the principal drivers of vegetation degradation. These findings highlight the need to strengthen conservation and forest management strategies for the Fathala Classified Forest by integrating remote sensing into long-term monitoring programmes and promoting community participation in forest restoration and sustainable resource management.