@article{fdi:010094852,
  title = {{F}ire {I}mpacts, vegetation {R}ecovery, and environmental drivers in {W}est {A}frican savannas (2014-2023) : a {H}igh-{R}esolution remote sensing assessment},
  author = {{O}uattara, {B}. and {T}hiel, {M}. and {F}orkuor, {G}. and {M}ouillot, {F}lorent and {L}aris, {P}. and {T}ondoh, {E}. {J}. and {S}ponholz, {B}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{S}avanna fires are a dominant ecological force in {W}est {A}frica, shaping land systems, carbon dynamics, and biodiversity. {Y}et, their impacts on ecosystem productivity and recovery remain poorly quantified at meaningful spatial and temporal scales. {T}his study presents a decadal assessment (2014-2023) of fire activity and post-fire vegetation response across a similar to 229,000 km(2) transboundary region of {B}urkina {F}aso, {G}hana, and {C} & ocirc;te d'{I}voire. {U}sing {H}armonized {L}andsat-{S}entinel ({HLS}) imagery and {VIIRS} active fire detections, we mapped burned areas ({BA}) at 30 m resolution-capturing extensive small fires often missed by global datasets. {F}ire-induced {N}et {P}rimary {P}roductivity ({NPP}) losses were estimated using downscaled {MODIS} productivity data, and post-fire recovery times were tracked at monthly and annual scales. {F}ires were highly seasonal, with > 80 % of {BA} occurring between {N}ovember and {J}anuary, peaking in {D}ecember. {D}espite a dip around 2017, interannual {BA} remained relatively stable (0.29 % yr(-)1 increase, p > 0.05). {I}mmediate {NPP} losses averaged similar to 11 x 10-2 {M}g {C} ha(-)1 per year, with higher per-hectare losses in forested and high-biomass zones. {R}oughly 65 % of {BA} recovered to pre-fire {NPP} levels within a year, primarily in grasslands and croplands. {H}owever, recovery in woody and mesic areas was slower and more variable. {W}e emphasize that recovery was assessed in terms of {NPP} (carbon uptake), not structural biomass or species composition-functional recovery does not necessarily imply full ecological recovery. {U}sing machine learning, we identified soil moisture (dry-season {NDMI}) and temperature as dominant predictors of recovery time, with soil fertility (nitrogen content) and water retention capacity emerging as key drivers. {I}nterestingly, fire frequency and land cover type had limited predictive power once climate and soil factors were accounted for, suggesting that environmental factors, more than fire regime characteristics, shape recovery. {T}hese findings support the idea that well-timed, low-intensity fires-particularly early-season burns-can promote carbon resilience in fire-adapted landscapes. {T}his underscores the value of high-resolution remote sensing and soil data in guiding fire-smart management and balancing ecological and livelihood goals under climate change.},
  keywords = {{B}urned area ; {N}et primary productivity ; {P}ost-fire recovery ; {M}achine learning ; {H}armonized {L}andsat-{S}entinel-2 ; {S}avanna fires ; {W}est {A}frica ; {AFRIQUE} {DE} {L}'{OUEST} ; {BURKINA} {FASO} ; {GHANA} ; {COTE} {D}'{IVOIRE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{I}nternational {J}ournal of {A}pplied {E}arth {O}bservation and {G}eoinformation},
  volume = {143},
  numero = {},
  pages = {104783 [22 p.]},
  ISSN = {1569-8432},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.jag.2025.104783},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010094852},
}