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Land Cover Mapping in West Africa: A Collaborative Process

Author

Listed:
  • Foster Mensah

    (Center for Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Services (CERSGIS), University of Ghana, Legon, Accra PMB L17, Ghana)

  • Fatima Mushtaq

    (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy)

  • Paul Bartel

    (SERVIR West Africa, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Cantonments, Accra PMB CT 112, Ghana)

  • Jacob Abramowitz

    (Earth System Science Center, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35805, USA
    NASA SERVIR Science Coordination Office, Marshall Space Flight Centre, Earth Science Branch, Huntsville, AL 35805, USA)

  • Emil Cherrington

    (Earth System Science Center, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35805, USA
    NASA SERVIR Science Coordination Office, Marshall Space Flight Centre, Earth Science Branch, Huntsville, AL 35805, USA)

  • Mansour Mahamane

    (CILSS/AGRHYMET Regional Center, 425 Boulevard de l’Université, Niamey BP 11011, Niger)

  • Bako Mamane

    (CILSS/AGRHYMET Regional Center, 425 Boulevard de l’Université, Niamey BP 11011, Niger)

  • Amadou Moctar Dieye

    (Centre de Suivie Ecologique, Rue Leon Gontran Damas, Fann Residence Dakar, Dakar BP 15532, Senegal)

  • Patrice Sanou

    (Higher Institute of Space Studies and Telecommunications (ISESTEL), Parcelle 13, Secteur 21, Arrondissement 5-Dassasgho, Ouagadougou 03 BP 7021, Burkina Faso)

  • Glory Enaruvbe

    (African Regional Institute for Geospatial Information Science and Technology (AFRIGIST), Off Road 1, Obafemi Awolowo University Campus, Ife Central, Ile Ife PMB 5545, Nigeria)

  • Ndeye Fatou Mar

    (Observatoire du Sahara et du Sahel (OSS), Boulevard du Leader Yasser Arafat BP 31 Tunis Carthage, Tunis 1080, Tunisia)

Abstract

The availability of current land cover and land use (LCLU) information for monitoring the status of land resources has considerable value in ensuring sustainable land use planning and development. Similarly, the need to provide updated information on the extent of LCLU change in West Africa has become apparent, given the increasing demand for land resources driven by rapid population growth. Over the past decade, multiple projects have been undertaken to produce regional and national land cover maps. However, using different classification systems and legends has made updating and sharing land cover information challenging. This has resulted in the inefficient use of human and financial resources. The development of the Land Cover Meta Language (LCML) based on International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards offers an opportunity to create a standardized classification system. This system would enable easier integration of regional and national data, efficient management of information, and better resource utilization in West Africa. This article emphasizes the process and the need for multistakeholder collaboration in developing a standardized land cover classification system for West Africa, which is currently nonexistent. It presents the survey data collected to evaluate historical, current, and future land cover mapping projects in the region and provides relevant use cases as examples for operationalizing a standardized land cover classification legend for West Africa.

Suggested Citation

  • Foster Mensah & Fatima Mushtaq & Paul Bartel & Jacob Abramowitz & Emil Cherrington & Mansour Mahamane & Bako Mamane & Amadou Moctar Dieye & Patrice Sanou & Glory Enaruvbe & Ndeye Fatou Mar, 2024. "Land Cover Mapping in West Africa: A Collaborative Process," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:10:p:1712-:d:1502136
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nicola Mosca & Fatima Mushtaq & Victor Munene & Peter Maleh & Ndyebo Mnyanda & Rashed Jalal & Amit Ghosh, 2024. "Land Characterization System Software: Implementing Land Cover Ontology," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-15, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elisha Njomaba & Fatima Mushtaq & Raymond Kwame Nagbija & Silas Yakalim & Ben Emunah Aikins & Peter Surovy, 2025. "Adopting Land Cover Standards for Sustainable Development in Ghana: Challenges and Opportunities," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-40, March.

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