Vulnerability of Wetlands to Hydroclimatic Extremes in the Department of Atlantique in Southern Benin

Wetlands in the Atlantique Department play a fundamental role in the functioning of both environmental and socio-economic systems. However, they are increasingly exposed to hydro-climatic extremes, particularly floods and droughts, exacerbated by climate change and anthropogenic pressures. This study aims to analyze the vulnerability of wetlands in response to hydro-climatic extremes in the Atlantique Department. The methodology is based on the analysis of hydro-climatic data (1958–2023), the use of climate anomaly indices, diachronic analysis of land use/land cover change, and the PEIR (Pressure–State–Impact–Response) framework. The results reveal marked climate variability, characterized by alternating deficit and surplus periods, along with a rising trend in temperatures. Annual precipitation ranges between 1100 and 1340 mm, with mean temperatures of 26.5–26.7 °C, indicating a high exposure to flood and drought risks, with more than 35 % of the territory classified as high-risk zones. These dynamics, combined with 99 % of pressures of anthropogenic origin (urbanization, agricultural pollution, fragmentation of lowlands, etc.), lead to rapid ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss. In light of this situation, the implementation of integrated and sustainable management strategies is essential to enhance the resilience of wetlands to hydro-climatic extremes.