مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Spatiotemporal analysis of land-use and land-cover changes in Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria

Abstract :

There is paucity of information on the rates at which most protected areas in Nigeria are being depleted as population soars. In order to formulate realistic management policies, reliable data on land use/land cover are indispensable. We evaluated the changes in the forest covers of Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP) using multitemporal remote-sensing data. Landsat TM, ETM+, and OLI/TC images of five age-series were analyzed using ArcGIS 10.5. A Normalized Difference Vegetation Index analysis was performed, and vegetation covers were distinguished. The rates of change were x-rayed and future projections made. Five land-use and land-cover classes (forest, savannah, swamp/water body, bare land, and built-up area) were distinguished. The results revealed that the area experienced considerable changes in vegetation covers. It was evident that from 1988 to 2018, the Borgu sector increased in forest and bare land by 10,728.18 ha (2.4%) and 19,540.83 ha (4.3%) at 0.08% and 0.14% per annum, respectively, whereas savannah and swamp/water body decreased by 27,134.28 ha (6.0%) and 3,104.73 ha (0.7%) at annual rates of 0.20% and 0.02%, respectively. In the Zugurma sector, forest and bare land increased by 7,242.21 ha (5.3%) and 44,341.74 ha (32.5%) at 0.18% and 1.08% per annum, respectively, whereas swamp decreased by 51,583.95 ha (37.8%) at 1.26% per annum. These changes were due to increases in anthropogenic activities in these parks, which negatively impacted the swamps and grassland. There were depletions along borders shared between the park and surrounding communities, and this poses degradation threats if not stemmed. A stricter protection measure is advocated. The park management must explore possible alternatives for area management.