A study was conducted in Beni Smiel, a mountainous region in western Algeria to clarify the nature and importance of causes and actions contributing to forest degradation and to examine the effects of land use on forest ecosystems.

After several surveys and using the remote sensing tool, six zones were installed with three plots of 100 m² each. Zone five contained a single plot and zone six inclued agricultural land taken as an entity.  Spatial observation was carried out using satellite imagery as the basis for automatic interpretation.  Descriptive and numerical maps and data were produced.

The analysis of degradation factors shows the extent of the impact of poor spatial management on the protection of forest ecosystems, which remains a major factor in the decline of vegetation cover. The potential of each area is not fully exploited. Most of the forests are bare lands and forest use areas on steep slopes have been reclaimed for agricultural purposes. The grazing area is not fixed and cattle are forced to graze in the forest area.

One of the priority measures to address poor spatial management is conservation, which can only be achieved by improving pastures, which is the most difficult measure. The main development orientations are divided into three zones: East, Central and West, including afforestation projects, valley restoration, infrastructure and sustainable development of agricultural land.

Satellite imagery enables continuous, large-scale monitoring of forest ecosystems. It provides near-precise data on forest cover, tree health, changes in land use and the impacts of human activities and natural phenomena. This information is crucial for making informed forest management decisions, helping to preserve biodiversity and combat climate change through data integration, capacity building, international collaboration and regulatory change.

Keywords: forests, surfaces use, impact, degradation causes, conservation, satellite imagery.