Exploring the land use and land cover change in the period 2005–2020 in the province of Errachidia, the pre-sahara of Morocco

The study investigates the land use and cover (LULC) in Errachidia province (Pre-Saharan of Morocco) period 2005–2020. To this end, remote sensing (RS) tools such as LULC, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), water (NDWI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Gravity Recovery Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite data, precipitations were processed combined. monitoring LULC over reveals different changes area. Generally, for bodies, two trends can be observed, an increasing trend since 2006 a decreasing from 2011 to present. However, was recorded urban-and-built-up-lands grasslands categories. NDVI, NDWI, EVI showed three major peaks same periods (in 2007, 2009, 2015). In terms storage, phases found. first depicted lowest groundwater quantities with trend, which corresponds drought and/or human pressure. second phase, most important that greatest storage while third phase low trend. croplands slightly 2012 2020, shows orientation extension crops mainly date palm encouraged by government programs. A strong correlation between seasonal NDVI using GRACE-Data recommendations on adaptation CC proposed. findings demonstrate RS techniques are useful detect hydrological droughts, observe, conserve resources. arid areas Errachidia, solution lies rationalizing resources protecting them uncontrolled anthropogenic events, may alleviate support local sustainable development, environmental scientists decision-makers outputs study.