Full scientific report: Benin
Generated 13 November 2026, 03:26 from live Atlas data
Executive summary
Atlas holds 71,153 mapped features and 37,971 observations in 23 datasets. The mapped mangrove canopy covers 2,198 ha in 1,115 polygons across 1 formation classes; Mangrove dominates with 100.0% of the area. The median patch is only 0.178 ha, while patches of 10 ha or more hold 68.8% of the area. 0 ha (0.0%) lies within 10 km of the LAPSSET development footprint.
Single mapping epoch (2019). Areas are geodesic hectares recalculated from geometry.
Species & formations
| Formation | Polygons | Area (ha) | Share | Mean patch (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mangrove | 1,115 | 2,198.4 | 100.0% | 1.97 |
Fragmentation & landscape metrics
- Patches
- 1,115
- Mean / median / largest
- 1.97 / 0.178 / 808.6 ha
- Effective mesh size
- 319.3 ha
- Largest patch index
- 36.8%
- Power-law exponent α
- 1.80
Spatial clustering
Global Moran’s I = 0.379 (z = 3.2, p = 0.001). Hot-spot cells (Gi*, ≥95%): 4; cold-spot cells: 6.
| Top hot-spot cell | Polygons | Area (ha) | Gi* z |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.35, 1.95 | 24 | 18 | 2.70 |
| 6.3, 1.95 | 266 | 374 | 2.41 |
| 6.25, 1.9 | 23 | 15 | 2.19 |
| 6.3, 1.9 | 224 | 964 | 2.03 |
| 6.3, 2.05 | 88 | 55 | 1.89 |
| 6.3, 2 | 81 | 224 | 1.85 |
Pressure: LAPSSET and villages
Mangrove ha by distance from LAPSSET
Mangrove ha by distance from villages
Data quality
| Dataset | Features | Repaired | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2020, Benin | 1,981 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 1996, Benin | 2,441 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2007, Benin | 2,899 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2010, Benin | 2,216 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2015, Benin | 2,082 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2025, Benin | 1,355 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2020, Benin | 1,115 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2015, Benin | 982 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2010, Benin | 952 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2005, Benin | 973 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2000, Benin | 1,120 | 0 | 100 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 1996, Benin | 1,059 | 0 | 100 |
| Fibre Cable Landing Stations | 126 | 0 | 95 |
| Rivers | 228 | 0 | 95 |
| Power Plants (Power output MW) | 642 | 0 | 95 |
| Small airport | 1,979 | 0 | 95 |
| Dams | 2,586 | 0 | 95 |
| Districts | 6,099 | 13 | 95 |
| World Database on Protected Areas | 7,438 | 1 | 95 |
| Electricity Transmission Network | 9,759 | 0 | 95 |
| Irrigated Areas | 23,095 | 1 | 95 |
| Carbon projects: Benin | 6 | 0 | 90 |
| Community and nature projects (UNDP): Benin | 20 | 0 | 90 |
Recommendations
Datasets & sources
| Dataset | Publisher | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2020, Benin | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 1,981 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 1996, Benin | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 2,441 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2007, Benin | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 2,899 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2010, Benin | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 2,216 |
| Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2015, Benin | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 2,082 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2025, Benin | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 1,355 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2020, Benin | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 1,115 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2015, Benin | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 982 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2010, Benin | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 952 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2005, Benin | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 973 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2000, Benin | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 1,120 |
| Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 1996, Benin | Global Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA) | 1,059 |
| Fibre Cable Landing Stations | WWF Kenya | 126 |
| Rivers | WWF Kenya | 228 |
| Power Plants (Power output MW) | WWF Kenya | 642 |
| Small airport | WWF Kenya | 1,979 |
| Dams | WWF Kenya | 2,586 |
| Districts | WWF Kenya | 6,099 |
| World Database on Protected Areas | WWF Kenya | 7,438 |
| Electricity Transmission Network | WWF Kenya | 9,759 |
| Irrigated Areas | WWF Kenya | 23,095 |
| Carbon projects: Benin | Berkeley Carbon Trading Project, University of California, Berkeley | 6 |
| Community and nature projects (UNDP): Benin | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | 20 |