MAPPING ANTHROPOGENIC PRESSURES IN THE BANDAMA RIVER BASIN (COTE D IVOIRE): A MULTICRITERIA APPROACH INTEGRATED WITH GIS

Anthropogenic pressures are among the main drivers of disturbance in aquatic ecosystems and water resources in tropical basins. This study proposes an assessment and mapping of anthropogenic pressures in the Bandama River basin, the largest in Cote dIvoire. The methodology combines the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), integrating three key factors: hydraulic infrastructures, land use, and population density. The results show that hydraulic infrastructures represent the dominant factor (56%), followed by land use (32%) and population density (12%). The anthropogenic pressure map reveals a North South gradient, with very high pressures in the regions of Korhogo, Ferkessedougou, Yamoussoukro, and Toumodi. These pressures induce major hydrological disturbances, including alterations of flow regimes, intensified runoff, and reservoir siltation. The results highlight the need for integrated water resources management to strengthen the basins hydrological resilience in the face of increasing anthropogenic dynamics.