Landscape Fragmentation and Deforestation in Sierra Leone, West Africa, Analysed Using Satellite Images

Monitoring rainforests in West Africa is necessary for natural resource management. Remote sensing is valuable for mapping tropical ecosystems and evaluation of landscape heterogeneity. This study presents landscape analysis in Sierra Leone which affects wildlife habitats and biodiversity. Methods include modules “r.mapcalc”, “r.li.mps”, “r.li.edgedensity”, and “r.forestfrag” of GRASS GIS for satellite image processing by computation of mean patch size, edge density index and landscape fragmentation with six levels: exterior, patch, transitional, edge, perforated, and interior. The results demonstrate increased deforestation and landscape fragmentation in Sierra Leone over a 10-year period (2013 to 2023).