Coastal Vulnerability and Risk Analysis Along the Littoral of Togo

This study presents the first fine-scale Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) assessment for Togo, evaluating coastal vulnerability and risk along the country’s 50 km barrier coastline in the context of accelerating erosion, rising sea level, and growing human exposure. Using remote sensing, GIS, and a CVI framework, shoreline trend rates, beach width, land use, and the role of existing coastal defences were analysed to support risk-informed decision-making. The coastline was segmented into 99 coastal units of 500 m, and shoreline trend rates were computed using the End Point Rate (EPR) method based on multi-temporal satellite-derived shorelines spanning from 1988 to 2024. Results show strong spatial contrasts in vulnerability, with the eastern sector of the Port of Lomé, particularly a 24.5 km stretch, exhibiting high vulnerability due to persistent shoreline retreat and narrow beach widths. In contrast, the western coastline displays lower vulnerability levels. Several erosion hotspots were identified, including Baguida and Dévinkemé, where recent shoreline retreat reaches up to −12.8 m/year. Existing coastal defences locally mitigate erosion impacts, reducing the extent of highly vulnerable shoreline from 23.5 km to 15 km. The integrated risk assessment identifies 6.5 km of coastline, primarily in the eastern port area, as being at high risk due to the combined effects of erosion and dense human settlement. These results provide spatially explicit information to support integrated coastal zone management, land-use planning, and adaptation strategies in Togo.