Application of Geospatial Technology in Assessing the Impact of Urbanization on Vegetation Degradation in Kuje Area Council, Abuja Nigeria
- July 22, 2019
- Posted by: RSIS
- Category: Applied Science
International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VI, Issue VII, July 2019 | ISSN 2321–2705
Abakpa D. Ibrahim and Sunday P. Ejaro
University of Abuja, Nigeria
Abstract: The level of Urbanization in Kuje Area Council in the last thirty (30) years has degraded the vegetation cover. This study used geospatial technology to assess the impact of urban growth on the vegetation cover between 1985 and 2015. The images of different epochs (1985, 1999 and 2015) were classified into built-up area, cultivated area, vegetation cover and bare land. This was carried out using ARC GIS 10.1, ILWIS 9.1 and ERDAS softwares for data generation and analysis. The result indicates that built-up area increased by (18.85%) and bare land increased by (10.26%) between 1985 and 2015 while vegetation cover and cultivated land were decreased by (-16.68%) and (12.44%). The study further recommend the urgent need to carry out the Master Plan Review to secure the vegetative land cover, particularly the forest lands which have been greatly encroached by urbanization. The government should encourage environmental sustainable programmes that will foster forest development, urban agriculture and other urban expansion processes in Kuje Area Council.
Keywords: Vegetation, Urbanization, degradation, Land use/land Cover, Environmental Sustainability
I. INTRODUCTION
The increase in number of people in a particular place either through birth or migration has many consequences on the environment. As human population grows, demands for resources such as food, water, timber, energy have increased and therefore posing a high pressure on the landscape (UNEP, 2011). Ejaro (2009) explains that rapid urbanization has raised several challenges for land cover changes in FCT. As the environment offers these services and resources to man it needs to be cared for, and the total conditions, circumstances surrounding man needs to be protected to give maximum resources and services (Ogidiolu and Balogun, 2000).
