Laboratoire de sécurité sanitaire, d'expertises et analyses. Institut Régional du génie industriel des Biotechnologies et Sciences Appliquées (IRGIB Africa), Benin
Zouzounkan massive is one of southern Benin forests whose management is done communally in the transition zone between the crystalline basement and the sedimentary soil. The present study is an application of satellite imagery and statistical modeling to the assessment of Zouzounkan forest cover states since the year 1990 to 2010 . It appears that there is a negative correlation between bare soil and vegetation massif Zouzounkan (-0.74 to clear forests and woodlands and -0.33 for tree and shrub savanna) . The mosaics of crops and fallow induce a negative correlation of -0.29 to clear forests and woodlands. Soil erosion leads to turn a negative correlation of -0.11 with tree and shrub savannah. 2 linear state functions were achieved through factor analysis on the basis of two factorial axes explaining 100% of the variance. The factorial axis 1 is materialized by a linear function f(x) = 0,997 Se + 0,969 FcSb + 0,960 Ma - 0,865 Sd - 0,778 Shs - 0,521 Mcj ; where Se = Soils altered by erosion; fcsb = Clear forest and savanna woodland ; Ma = Wetlands ; Sd = bare floors ; Shs = Savanna Grassland ; Mcj = mosaics of crops and fallow. The factorial axis 2 is represented by F(x) = 0,24 FcSb -0,983 Saa + 0,854 ; With Saa = tree and shrub Savannah. Frome the diagram of components in space after rotation, we deduce that the increase 0.865 units of bare floors or 0.521 units mosaics of crops and fallow causes a degradation of 0.969 units of woodland and savanna Woodland. Urgent mesures of reforestation, erosion control and forest eve well-organized are essential for the sustainability of massive Zouzounkan agroecosystems.