The expansion of African cities leads to the occupation of peripheral urban areas without respecting planning rules. The Greater Lomé (Togo) is no exception to this phenomenon of high-speed horizontal spreading, which causes recurrent flooding. The objective of this research is to understand the spatio-temporal changes in the dynamics of built-up areas in Greater Lomé. The methodology used is based on the analysis of Landsat images from the years 2007, 2012, 2016, and 2020 coupled with direct field observations and a literature review. The results showed an increase in residential areas to the detriment of the other land use/cover types. Estimated at 15,481 ha in 2007, the built-up area reached 35,521 ha in 2020, an increase of 33% to the detriment of vegetation and cultivation areas. This increase was marked by constructions in the floodplain of the Zio River. The field surveys revealed an increase in the density of most of the agglomerations. From 1863 ha in 2007, they increased to 14,485 ha in 2020, an increase of 12,622 ha or approximately 33%. These results indicate that attention needs to be paid to both the planning and control of the development of spaces in the outlying areas of Greater Lomé.

In Togo, and especially in the peri-urban areas of Greater Lomé, flood hazards and their effects on communities and ecosystems have increased in recent years due to global changes. This is predominantly due to increasing urbanization and the changing climate. This study explores the application of remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS) and analytical hierarchy processes (AHP) for flood hazard mapping in Greater Lomé. Maps of seven (7) drivers of flood hazards, namely flow accumulation, rainfall intensity, geology and soil, land use, slope, elevation and distance from the drainage network, were prepared by integrating remote sensing data into a GIS environment. The weight of each factor was estimated via the AHP method and used in the estimation of the flood hazard index (FHI). The results show that there is a high or very high susceptibility of flooding in 53.4% of the Greater Lomé suburbs, while there is a moderate to low susceptibility of flooding in about 46.59% of it, and 0.01% of the study area. The generated map is a useful tool for decision-makers and practitioners in charge of flood risk and disaster management when developing plans to reduce the risk of both current and future floods in the study area.

The Upper Mono Basin Valley (UMBV) in Togo faces recurrent flooding hazards. This study assesses spatial flood susceptibility using an integrated approach combining Geographic Information Systems (GISs), Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM), and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Eight factors were weighted according to their influence: accumulation flow, annual precipitation, soil permeability, land use/land cover, slope, elevation, distance from drainage networks, and drainage network density. With a consistency ratio of 0.052, the AHP method proved coherent and enabled the development of a normalized Flood Hazard Index (FHI). Results revealed accumulation flow (weight = 0.33), distance to drainage networks (0.18), and network density (0.16) as the most critical drivers, while precipitation and soil permeability are secondary. Spatial classification revealed heterogeneity: 55% (871,046 ha) of the UMBV has very low susceptibility, while 1% (10,034 ha) is highly vulnerable, mainly in Est-Mono, Ogou, Anié, Tchamba, and Tchaoudjo. In contrast, Blitta and Sotouboua show lower vulnerability due to higher altitudes. This reveals that the UMBV is relatively less prone to flooding. The comparison of data from 28 focus groups in 14 municipalities with the flood susceptibility map shows a strong concordance between local perceptions and the mapping (r = 0.805, p < 0.001). These findings highlight the need for differentiated territorial strategies integrating physical parameters, land use dynamics, and community risk perceptions to strengthen flood risk management in the UMBV.

The degradation of forest landscapes in West Africa, particularly in Togo, threatens ecological and socio-economic sustainability. This study analyzes the spatio-temporal dynamics of land use in the central plains of Togo between 1991 and 2022, and projects its evolution for 2030 and 2050 to guide restoration strategies. The methodology integrates the interpretation of Landsat images (1991, 2005, 2022) and the analysis of indicators, including conversion rates and the anthropization index. Prospective modeling (Markov chains and neural networks) follows a trend scenario. The results reveal a sharp decline in natural forest formations: dense semi-deciduous and dense dry forests (−50.55%) and woodlands (−62.06%), converted mainly to cropland, plantations, and built-up areas. Shrub/tree savannas, the dominant class, represent a transitional stage resulting from forest degradation. The average annual deforestation rate is 0.75%. The ecological disturbance index increased from 0.24 (1991) to 0.45 (2005), and then to 0.56 (2022), reflecting increased human impact and fragmentation. Projections indicate that these trends will continue, highlighting the growing vulnerability of ecosystems and the need to integrate this dynamic into sustainable management and restoration policies.