## 5 Conclusions  
This review offers an analysis of the potential of RS for mapping small-scale agricultural and cropping systems in West Africa. A search string comprising relevant terms was developed through both automated and manual filtering techniques, resulting in the identification of 163 relevant studies published between 1 January 2000, and 31 April 2024. Data were gathered from these studies on several aspects: study locations, author and funding origins, the sensors utilized, as well as their spatial and temporal resolution, and the time periods examined. Furthermore, the review explored the crop types studied, comparing their representation in the research literature to their actual importance in terms of area coverage and economic contribution. Lastly, we examined the research objectives, the potential of RS, and its associated challenges. Key findings are summarized as follows:  
* We identified an overall increase in research activity over time on mapping small-scale agricultural and cropping systems in West Africa, with over 53% of the reviewed publications since 2019. * Europe dominates both the number of first author affiliations (49.7%) and the origin of funding (54%). The second-highest percentage of first author affiliations are from Africa (20.9%). Additionally, the United States shows a great research interest with 25 first author affiliations and 59 studies funded. The research hotspots in West Africa are identified as Senegal, Burkina Faso und Mali, together accounting for over 50% of the reviewed articles. * Multispectral optical data are employed in 88.3% of all studies. About 86.4% use satellite data as a carrier system and over 58% of studies utilize more than one sensor in their analyses. * Time-series is the predominant temporal resolution (39.4% of studies), followed by multi-temporal (multiple observations in a single year) with 31.9%, multitemporal (single observations in multiple years) 15.6% and mono-temporal with 13.1%. * Sensors with a spatial resolution of below 30 m dominate, making up 53.7% of all studies. In addition, 66% of the reviewed articles focus on a study area at regional or local scales. * The analysis of crop categories analyzed in the reviewed studies revealed:  
* Cereals, particularly millet, maize, and sorghum dominate the literature, with high research attention in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Niger, reflecting their land use and economic importance of those crops in these regions* Groundnuts are a major focus in Senegal's \"Groundnut basin\", highlighting their dual role in land area and economic output, while crops like \"Beans/Legumes\", though underrepresented in the literature, contribute largely to food security and account for a large share of agricultural area in countries such as Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Niger, and Mauretania
* The category \"Tree\", notably cocoa and oil palm, are economically prominent in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire and is well-represented in the reviewed literature
* There is a potential research gap of RS on high economic important vegetables in West Africa
* The analysis of possibilities and remaining challenges of RS on small-scale agricultural and cropping systems in West Africa reveals two major findings:
* Major advancements in agricultural monitoring and LULUC mapping have occurred. Key findings include enhanced crop yield estimation in heterogeneous landscapes, accurate agroforestry system mapping, refined assessments of plant and field characteristics and crop management responses. Additionally, the integration of various data sources supports decision-making on various levels for climate change adaptation, flood risk management, and public health.