Deforestation causes tragedy in Casamance, Senegal

Sentinel-1 CSAR IW acquired on 07 March 2015 from 19:16:45 to 19:17:14 UTC
Sentinel-2 MSI acquired on 11 January 2016 at 11:39:34 UTC
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Sentinel-1 CSAR IW acquired on 02 January 2018 at 19:17:21 UTC
Sentinel-2 MSI acquired on 10 January 2018 at 11:24:31 UTC
Author(s): Sentinel Vision team, VisioTerra, France - svp@visioterra.fr
Keyword(s): land, forestry, deforestation, mangrove, rainfall, Casamance, Senegal
Fig. 1 - S1 (10.01.2018) - vv,vh,ndi(vh,vv) - Area between Senegal & Guinea Bissau delimited by River Casamance & Rio Cacheu.
Fig. 2 - S2 (02.01.2018) - 4,3,2 natural colour - Natural land cover includes bare river banks, mangrove & remnants of rainfall forest.
"Around 20 men were collecting wood in the protected forest of Bayottes, close to the regional capital of Ziguinchor when a 15- to 20-strong armed group attacked them. The victims were looking for firewood, according to friends who escaped and their families. However, several sources said they were potentially involved in the illegal logging trade in a region with plentiful rosewood and teak, both highly prized in China.", Agence France Presse (AFP) reported. This happened in the southernmost part of Casamance, between Gambia and Guinea Bissau. The Seattle Times commented: "Wood cut from the Casamance forest is taken over the border to Gambia then exported to China, according to many experts.".
Fig. 3 - S2 (02.01.2018) - 12,11,4 colour composite - Area between Ziguinchor (Senegal) & Sao Domingos (Guinea Bissau)
Fig. 4 - S2 (02.01.2018) - 8,11,2 colour composite - Area south east of Niaguis aloso show more degradation on the Guinean side.
Radio France International (RFI) reminds Bofa Bayotte forest is among the protected areas of Casamance, these are rich forests that arouse envy. According to Haïdar el-Ali, previously Minister of the Environment of Senegal and now president of the Ziguinchor-based Océanium association, forest is an important ressource. It used to be everywhere and lush. Some log, loot, ransack, forest recedes which creates tension regarding the access to ressources. A month ago, a truck full of illegally logged wood was burned. Before, environmentalists were attacked, he added. Haïdar el-Ali also enumerated RFI exemples such as one village leader who was defending his area and was killed, or several young people who were defending their area and were sent to the hospital.
Fig. 5 - S2 (02.01.2018) - 4,3,2 natural colour - Focus on a largely deforested area.
Fig. 6 - S1 (10.01.2018) - vv,vh,ndi(vh,vv) - The large clearing in the centre appeared after January 2016, it now exceeds 100 ha.
The Seattle Times mentions "Environmental experts have warned for years against accelerated deforestation in the Casamance region, calling for sanctions and harsher enforcement against such exports and illegal action.". Following this tragedy, AFP reports that "President Macky Sall has suspended all authorisation for logging and ordered an overhaul of Senegal's forestry laws.".
Fig. 7 - S2 (02.01.2018) - 12,11,4 colour composite - Progress of deforestation South of Goudomp, notice the recurrent fire.