Tracking environmental dynamics and agricultural intensification in southern Mali

Agricultural Systems
By:  and 

Links

Abstract

The Office de la Haute Vallée du Fleuve Niger (OHVN) zone in southern Mali is a small but important agricultural production region. Against a background of environmental degradation including decades of declining rainfall, soil erosion, and human pressure on forest resources, numerous farming communities stand out through the use of improved soil and water management practices that have improved agricultural and environmental conditions. Field surveys conducted in 1998–2001 indicated that environmental and agricultural conditions have improved in the past decade. In an effort to better quantify environmental trends, we conducted a study using medium- and high-resolution remotely sensed images from 1965 to 2001 in order to analyze land use and land cover trends in 21 village territories. The trends show clear indications of agricultural intensification and diversification among villages that have received assistance from the OHVN agricultural development agency. Some communities have improved environmental conditions by protecting their forest resources through community management actions. Four decades of remotely sensed images played a practical role in tracking and quantifying environmental and agricultural conditions over time.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Tracking environmental dynamics and agricultural intensification in southern Mali
Series title Agricultural Systems
DOI 10.1016/j.agsy.2005.07.011
Volume 94
Issue 1
Year Published 2007
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
Description 14 p.
First page 38
Last page 51
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details