Analysis of Socioeconomic Issues and Fire Dynamics in the Bonama Protected Forest (Lola, Guinea)

Abstract

The Bonama Protected Forest (7,580 hectares) is located in the Forested Region of Guinea. Despite its protected status, it faces anthropogenic pressures. This study analyzes the socioeconomic issues related to its management and the spatiotemporal trends in burned areas between 2023 and 2025. The methodology combines socioeconomic surveys and geospatial analyses. Semi structured interviews were conducted with 332 individuals (residents and government forestry officials). The interviews focused on forest use and the perceived causes of wildfires. The burned areas during the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 dry seasons were mapped using Sentinel-2 imagery, with the normalized differential burn index (ΔNBR). The accuracy of the maps was assessed using confusion matrices, which provide the overall accuracy and Cohen’s Kappa coefficient. The demarcation of the forest in 2013 reportedly led to the displacement of approximately 110 Indigenous families without compensation. However, 81.63% of respondents acknowledge the importance of this forest. Of the 556 activities cited as being carried out in the forest, 42.99% relate to cattle ranching. Local populations use 88 plant species, including 45 medicinal, 35 edible, and 8 dual-purpose species. In 20232024, fires affected 96.88% of the forest’s area. In 2024–2025, they affected 93.22%. Moderate and high severity classes predominate. The maps achieve overall accuracies of 91.7% and 93.3%, with Kappa coefficients of 0.89 and 0.92. In 92.37% of responses, livestock farmers were identified as responsible for the fires. This perception alone does not prove a causal link. The authors recommend integrated and tailored management of the Bonama Protected Forest. This recommendation also applies to other protected forests subject to comparable anthropogenic pressures.

Key words: protected forest; bushfires; Sentinel 2; participatory management; Guinea. 

Received Date: September 17, 2026

Accepted Date: October 09, 2026

Published Date: November 01, 2026

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/1043