book chapter · Advances in geospatial technologies book series
This study examines land use, vegetation cover, and water body changes in the Moulay Bousselham area of Kenitra Province, focusing on the impact of agricultural activities on the Merja Zerga wetland. Using multi-source satellite imagery (Landsat and Sentinel) processed in Google Earth Engine, vegetation dynamics were tracked from 2014 to 2024, and water surface changes from 1984 to 2024. Results reveal a steady annual increase of about 9.5 km2 in vegetation cover, driven by intensive farming and modern irrigation that boosted productivity and mitigated desertification. Conversely, the water surface of Lake Merja Zerga declined by 0.0352 km2 per year, threatening aquatic habitats, water quality, and local climate regulation. Land use analysis highlights urban expansion, a shift to intensive production systems, and forest degradation. These findings stress the need for sustainable land management and wetland conservation to balance development with ecosystem protection.
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DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3373-6608-1.ch004
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