IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i3p885-d1573731.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Dynamics of Built-Up Areas and Loss of Vegetation in Secondary Towns: Case Study of Sarh Town in Chad, Central Africa

Author

Listed:
  • François Teadoum Naringué

    (Regional Center of Excellence on Sustainable Cities in Africa (CERViDA-DOUNEDON), University of Lome, Lome 01 BP 1515, Togo
    Research Laboratory on Spaces, Exchanges and Human Security, University of Lome, Lome 01 BP 1515, Togo)

  • N’Dilbé Tob-Ro

    (Geography Department, Adam Barka University of Abeche, N’Djamena BP 5539, Chad)

  • Melone Like Sorsy

    (Research Laboratory on Spaces, Exchanges and Human Security, University of Lome, Lome 01 BP 1515, Togo)

  • Julien Komivi Sodjinè Aboudou

    (Applied Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics Laboratory (LTAG), University of Lome, Lome 01 BP 1515, Togo)

  • Asrom Blondel Mgang-yo

    (Regional Center of Excellence on Sustainable Cities in Africa (CERViDA-DOUNEDON), University of Lome, Lome 01 BP 1515, Togo)

  • Bourdannet Patouki Sing-Non

    (Regional Center of Excellence on Sustainable Cities in Africa (CERViDA-DOUNEDON), University of Lome, Lome 01 BP 1515, Togo)

  • Altolnan Parfait Tombar

    (Regional Center of Excellence on Sustainable Cities in Africa (CERViDA-DOUNEDON), University of Lome, Lome 01 BP 1515, Togo)

  • Follygan Hetcheli

    (Research Laboratory on Spaces, Exchanges and Human Security, University of Lome, Lome 01 BP 1515, Togo)

Abstract

The dynamics of the urbanisation of Sarh town in Chad, although less rapid than that of the capital city, has led to a significant loss of vegetation and unsustainable land use. This research aims to analyse the dynamics of land use, focusing on the expansion of built-up areas and the loss of vegetation. The methodology used includes the analysis of Landsat images from 1994, 2003, 2013, and 2022, supplemented by field data, statistical analysis, interviews, and documentary analysis. The results show that the built-up area, estimated at 806 hectares in 1994, reached 2603 hectares in 2022, representing an annual increase of 4.1%. Moreover, the area of vegetation decreased from 759 hectares to 231 hectares, a reduction of 69%. In addition, there is a strong negative correlation (r = −0.93) between the expansion of built-up areas and the loss of vegetation. On average, the annual growth of built-up areas (4.1%) exceeds that of the population (3.33%). Field surveys reveal that this situation is due to a preference for more spacious housing, inadequate land management, and the limited resources for vegetation rehabilitation. This research highlights the critical need for effective urban planning and management strategies to address the challenges posed by rapid urbanisation in secondary towns like Sarh.

Suggested Citation

  • François Teadoum Naringué & N’Dilbé Tob-Ro & Melone Like Sorsy & Julien Komivi Sodjinè Aboudou & Asrom Blondel Mgang-yo & Bourdannet Patouki Sing-Non & Altolnan Parfait Tombar & Follygan Hetcheli, 2025. "Dynamics of Built-Up Areas and Loss of Vegetation in Secondary Towns: Case Study of Sarh Town in Chad, Central Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-23, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:3:p:885-:d:1573731
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/3/885/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/3/885/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:3:p:885-:d:1573731. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.