American Journal of Climate Change, 2021, 10, 263-281 https://www.scirp.org/journal/ajcc ISSN Online: 2167-9509 ISSN Print: 2167-9495 DOI: 10.4236/ajcc.2021.103012 Sep. 2, 2021 263 American Journal of Climate Change Modelling the Current and Future Spatial Distribution Area of Shea Tree (Vittelaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn) in the Context of Climate Change in Benin Yasminath Judith Follone Avaligbé 1* , Faki Oyédékpo Chabi 1 , Césaire Paul Gnanglè 2 , Orou Daouda Bello 1 , Ibouraïma Yabi 3 , Léonard Ahoton 1 , Aliou Saïdou 1 1 Integrated Soil and Crop Management Research Unit, Laboratory of Soil Sciences, Crop Sciences School, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin 2 Agricultural Research Centre (CRA) of Agonkanmey, National Agricultural Research Institute of Benin (INRAB), Cotonou, Benin 3 Laboratory Pierre PAGNEY “Climate, Water, Ecosystem and Development (LACEEDE)”, Department of Geography and Land Management (DAGT), Faculty of Human and Social Sciences (FASHS), University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin Abstract In Benin, Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) is one of the agroforestry species of great socio-economic importance for local populations. Given the actual var- iation in the climate parameters, it is necessary to anticipate the future spatial distribution of Shea trees as an adaptation strategy and for designing relevant conservation strategies. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the influence of climate change on the distribution areas of Shea trees in Benin. Occurrence data consisting of geographic coordinates of Shea trees in Benin as well as bioclimatic variables were recorded. Furthemore, additional pres- ence points were collected from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility database website. Current and future environmental data for the study area were obtained from the Africlim website. Bioclimatic variables (moisture and temperature), monthly maximum and minimum temperatures and annual rainfall were collected from Worldclim synoptic stations website for the pe- riod 1970-2000. The aridity index was created from the potential evapotrans- piration (PET) and annual rainfall, using spatial analysis tools of ArcGIS. The impact of current and future environmental conditions on favourable Shea trees’ growing area was assessed following the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) approach under two climate scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5). Under the current climate conditions, 80% of Benin territory and 79% of the protected areas were highly favourable for Shea trees growing and conservation. How- How to cite this paper: Avaligbé, Y. J. F., Chabi, F. O., Gnanglè, C. P., Bello, O. D., Yabi, I., Ahoton, L., & Saïdou, A. (2021). Modelling the Current and Future Spatial Distribution Area of Shea Tree (Vittelaria paradoxa C. F. Gaertn) in the Context of Climate Change in Benin. American Jour- nal of Climate Change, 10, 263-281. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajcc.2021.103012 Received: April 26, 2021 Accepted: August 30, 2021 Published: September 2, 2021 Copyright © 2021 by author(s) and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access