## 5 Discussion
### Limitations and Future Research Perspectives  
In Senegal's Thies region, a predominantly rural economy relies on rainfed production systems and the exploitation of ecosystem values, particularly forests, which are critical drivers for economic growth. Therefore, conducting suitable research on the status of forested areas is pivotal for continuously ensuring the livelihood of the population. However, the lack or scarcity of documents and statistics directly related to our study area limited our investigations, as documents and statistics were fundamental components for analyzing our objectives. Moreover, human activities in Senegal, such as the current breeding trends, are extensive and have not been clearly understood. This study also did not determine the trends and impacts of these issues on forested areas.  
Additionally, education level, farmers' environmental knowledge, available water capacity, infiltration capacity, and political factors such as land tenure [23; 24; 60] may be helpful for forested areas' management. Fundamentally, farmers with a deep understanding of environmental processes and sustainable practices are more likely to engage in behaviors that protect and preserve forested areas. Secure land tenure can also empower communities and individuals to invest in long-term conservation practices. Moreover, areas with higher water capacity may support a wider variety of plant life and are generally more resilient to drought and other climate-related stresses. These factors should be considered in future research. Mixed linear regression models often require a large amount of high-quality data to be reliable. Alternatively, the amount of data used during the study period seems relatively low, which may have had a potential impact on the results. Furthermore, to our knowledge, there is a lack of coordination between remote sensing and GIS efforts in Senegal, which may have resulted in imperfections in the data quality. Due to issues like cloud cover, the data were collected between September and November, potentially impacting the accuracy of the results.  
Therefore, integrating socio-economic and natural data into research, along with a questionnaire to collect information on farmer activities in rural areas, particularly regarding the supply, flow, and demand of ecosystem service values, may provide valuable information for preserving the suitability of forested areas. In the context of the Thies region, formulating policies and processes to improve the value of ecosystem services requires careful consideration of the impact of socio-economic factors in space and time at the local level, particularly at the micro-scale. Additionally, from a geographical perspective, future research should focus on the local level, including the specific evolution of forested areas in the \"Zone Niayes\" (western coastal area), which represents crucial forested areas (Figure 4). Similarly, exploring the impact of mining activities in the central, northern, and southern parts of the Thies region would be valuable, utilizing sophisticated data collection processes and ensuring the accuracy of remote sensing data.  
In the Thies region, an estimated 81% of farmers lack property rights, a situation that presents a significant challenge for appropriate land management. A combination of factors such as population growth, industrial development, intensive mining, and agricultural expansion places considerable stress on forest areas. Without timely intervention, the cumulative impact of environmental conditions and intense socio-economic development could lead to the ongoing degradation of these forests. Consequently, there is an urgent need for predictive research and appropriate land use policies in the Thies region. Such measures are essential for understanding the dynamics between forest evolution and intensive development and to safeguard the future of these forested areas.