Assessing Land Use and Land Cover Change and Farmers’ Perceptions of Deforestation and Land Degradation in South-West Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa

Deforestation and land degradation remain two major economic environmental threats in Côte d’Ivoire. This study assessed use cover (LULC) change farmers’ perceptions of the drivers effects deforestation south-western We used remotely sensed data to determine LULC trends, a household survey collect degradation. A total 411 households were interviewed using structured questionnaire focus group discussions involved 25 farmers. Landsat image analysis reported drastic conversion forestlands into agriculture from 1987 2015 at rate 1.44%/year 3.44%/year for dense forests degraded forests, respectively. The revealed that causes perceived by farmers included population growth (79.3%), extensive (72.9%), migration (54.2%) logging (47.7%). Land evolved, shortened fallow period (46.7%) an inappropriate application inputs (31.4%). linked encompassed (70.6%), loss biodiversity (63.8%), global warming (56.9%) livelihood assets (54.3%). Therefore, this recommends participatory landscape planning, reforestation capacity building stakeholders sustainable intensification production systems reduce challenges enhanced productive protective functions remaining forests.