Land use and Land Cover Change (LUCC) is the sum of short and long term effects of global change and human transformation of the landscape.

The LUCC occurs in two different forms: Modifications are identified where the land use or cover remains the same, but some properties change over time (i.e. thinning of tree density).
Transformations describe conversions of land use or cover, i.e. from forest to cropland.

In the Volta Basin, Land use and land cover change hot-spots were identified, where LUCC is most significant. The dramatic population growth, the large dependence on agriculture, and wood as fuel leads to land cover and large land use changes. Land degradation is rampant and 35% of Ghana's land surface and 75% of Burkina Faso is under threat of desertification.

Example: Woodland transformation around the Bontioli National Park, Burkina Faso
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