Assessment and Trend of Land Cover Land Use Changes in Owerri and Environs, South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined land cover and land use changes (LCLUC) in Owerri and environs from 1986 to 2016 and went further to determine the trend in the change of each LCLUC class. The satellite imagery of the area over the three decades was characterized into the different LCLUC classes and the changes in the areal extent of the different LCLUC classes were calculated and plotted, followed with the estimation of the trend using linear regression analysis method. The result revealed that over the three decades, forests and sparse vegetation respectively decreased at a rate of 0.73% and 0.05% of the total land area per year while built up areas increased almost equally in the opposite direction at a rate of 0.65% of the total land area per year. Open spaces and water bodies decreased at the rate of 0.11% and 0.02% of the total land area respectively which were as a result of the pressure for resources like land and sand for built infrastructure. A model was derived for the LCLUC and it revealed that Owerri and environs may be devoid of vegetal cover in about 2 decades (2039) if the current rate of conversion of forests to built-up infrastructure is not abated. This whole LCLUC scenario if not controlled may trigger changes in the local climate of the area and urgent steps are therefore needed to create awareness to all the stakeholders in the area on the need for sustainable land and natural resources use, tree planting, urban spatial plan and controls in order to safeguard the environment, ecosystem and climate of the area for the future.