This study aimed to monitor and analyze the spatial and temporal dynamic of forest cover in Eastern area of Beni-Mellal Province (Morocco), using multispectral ASTER and Sentinel-2A MIS images acquired in 2001 and 2015, respectively. The supervised classification algorithm and NDVI were combined within a GIS environment to quantify the extent and density change of forest cover stands, i.e., Holm oak, Aleppo pine, Thya, Zea oak, Crops & others and Bare ground. The classification overall accuracy was 97.76 and 95.80% in 2001 and 2015 images, respectively. The result revealed an overall forest cover change with an increase in forested area. All species stands showed expansion at the expense of the bare ground and crops & others classes. The density maps showed a net density change with an expansion of dense forest class. The observed forest cover expansion may be due to the favourable climate in the examined period, the protection, the reforestation programs and the regeneration through clandestine cutting. These results constituted the first attempt at mapping and monitoring of forest cover change in the study region that used a remote sensing-based product. They will help authorities and forest managers for the development of sustainable forest conservation and management decisions.
Aït Bou Oulli valley is located in the heart of the Moroccan central High‐Atlas, with a height of 4,068 metres in Ighil M'goun and 3,800 metres in Rat Mountain. Mountain areas are characterised by higher geodiversity compared with other areas. The valley possesses a geoheritage that is very rich and diverse, has an exceptional landscape of high mountains and attracts tourists every year. However, the number of visitors is still restricted because of a lack of tools for promotion, valorisation and mediation of this heritage. It is with the aim to promote this rich heritage that the present work was performed. The work focuses on the inventory, selection and quantitative evaluation of the remarkable geomorphosites in order to classify them. The results reveal the presence of 81 potential sites, of which 24 are conducive to geotourism. These conducive sites included: nine fluvial landforms of which five are enviable panoramic viewpoints and four are karstic forms; four structural landforms; three glacial landforms: two gravitatives landforms; one anthropic landform; and one lake landform. Rich information provided by this study and knowledge of these new geomorphosites are important for promotion of tourism activities in the Aït Bou Oulli region and can assist planners and authorities to formulate suitable plans for sustained development of the region.
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