EXTENT OF URBANIZATION IMPACT ON FOREST RESOURCES IN OJU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENUE STATE.....

Several studies on urbanisation, particularly in Nigeria and around the world, have been conducted, but they have largely focused on major cities, with little attention paid to the rise of smaller towns. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of urbanisation on forest resources in the Oju LGAs of Benue State, Nigeria. In Oju Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria, the study examined the extent and growth rate of urban settlements, as well as their influence on forest resources. Landsat TM and ETM+ remotely sensed images were captured in 1998 and 2008, respectively, while the Operational Landsat Imager (OLI) was employed in 2018. Using the Integrated Land and Water Information System (ILWIS) software, the images were treated to several image processing techniques before being supervised classified using the Maximum Likelihood Classifier. Forested areas, farming, vegetation, built-up regions, and water were classified into five Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) groups. The data show that between 1998 and 2018, forest area dropped by -231.5 km2 (63.24%), corresponding to a -3.16 percent yearly rate. At a 5.45 percent yearly rate of change, the built-up area rose by 150.45km2 (108.99 percent). At a 0.32 percent annual growth rate, farmland area declined by -30.56 km2 (-6.5 percent). According to the report, the loss of naturally vegetated regions is primarily due to urban growth and expansion, farming, and logging activities, as well as commercial activities. The report suggests raising awareness about deforestation and encouraging community and urban forestry.

Please see the link :- https://www.ikprress.org/index.php/JOGEE/article/view/7430