Spatio-temporal dynamics of land use and land cover change in the commune of Dori, Burkina Faso

Land use and land cover (LULC) is a fundamental variable in the sustainable management of natural resources. Understanding land use and land cover change is essential for the study of environmental phenomena. This study investigates LULC change in Dori Commune in Burkina Faso over the period 1995-2015. The methodological approach is based on the analysis of Landsat images from three time points (i.e., 1995, 2006 and 2015). Data analysis revealed a 16.86% decrease in natural vegetation and an 80% increase in anthropogenic areas between 1995 and 2015. According to the matrix of changes, areas of tree steppe was more converted into shrub/grassy steppe with a rate of 6.45% against 1.42% in farmland in the study period. Shrub/grassy steppes were also converted into farmlands with a rate of 13.77% in the same period. The study found that human activities were the main drivers of LULC change in the study area. The variability in rainfall likely also contributed to the observed LULC change. The study’s findings can help with decisionmaking elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa.