AN ASSESSMENT OF VEGETATION CHANGE AND PERCEIVED DRIVERS IN ESSIEN UDIM LGA OF AKWA IBOM STATE.....

In Nigeria's Akwa Ibom State, the study looked at vegetation change and perceived factors in Essien Udim LGA. Land use/land cover inventory was carried out using GIS and remote sensing techniques to illustrate changes in vegetation between two time periods – 1987 and 2013. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on human activities, including information on variables that contribute to increased human activity, the perceived impact of human activities on vegetation, and the motives for engaging in various human activities in the study region. The findings suggest that, whereas secondary woods and fallow land are decreasing in the study area, farmlands and built-up areas are rising. While bushland under fallow had the largest negative change of 40.37 percent, built-up regions had the highest positive change of 42.26 percent. Secondary woodland experienced the least negative change (9.63%), whereas farming experienced the least positive change (7.74%). Crop farming is placed first, with a weight of 145.08, and is thus the most important human activity in the research region. Crop farming is ranked first in terms of impact on vegetation change. When it comes to the importance of timber harvesting as a human activity, it ranks second, but ninth when it comes to its impact on vegetation change. In terms of human activity and impact on vegetation change, animal husbandry and housing are ranked third and fourth, respectively. When the impact on vegetation change is evaluated, road construction came in fifth as a human activity, but it became the second most important element. There were numerous motives provided for participating in various human pursuits. Crop farming, for example, was done for food and to meet domestic needs.

In the Essien Udim Local Government Area, there are a variety of human activities, each of which has an impact on the vegetation, either directly or indirectly. According to the research, farming is the most common human activity that causes changes in the area's vegetation over time. This is supported by a land use change analysis that shows that, whereas secondary forests and fallow land are decreasing in the study area, farmlands and built-up areas are rising. The findings of the study have indicated a trend in vegetation change that will help stakeholders build plans for long-term development.

Please see the link :- https://www.ikprress.org/index.php/JOGAE/article/view/6721