Spatiotemporal Analyses of Land Use and Land Cover Changes in Suleja Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria.

Abstract

This study examines the spatial and temporal changes in land use and land cover in Suleja Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State between 1987 and 2012, as well as, the rate of change, factors responsible and suggests measures on how to check the trend in order to maintain sustainable development.  The study utilised ILWIS 3.3 software for the processing and classification of the tri-date (1987, 2001, and 2012) satellite images. The method for the analyses of the land use and land cover change is the Post-classification Comparison Method (PCM). Land use and land cover change data obtained from each period is presented in colour composite maps and tables. The results obtained show that the proportion of area covered by built up land, farm land and bare soil is on the increase, whilst there is decline in vegetation. Built up land increased from 7.0 km² (or 5.2%) in 1987 to 17.9 km² (or 12.5%) in 2012, farmland from 50.1 km² (or 36.7%) to 63.0 km² (or 46.2%) and a decline in vegetation from 68.7 km² (or 50.4%) in 1987 to 43.1 km² (or 31.6%) in 2012. The study reveals that urbanization is largely responsible for the significant change and modifications in land use and land cover in Suleja LGA.  These land use and land cover changes lead to environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, infrastructure overload, etc. To mitigate these impacts there should be constant monitoring of urban growth and changes in land use/land cover and put in place appropriate response mechanism in line with the towns and regional master plan to maintain sustainable development of Suleja LGA.

Keywords: Land use, Land cover changes, Spatiotemporal, Sustainable Development, Satellite Images, Time lapse analyses, Urbanization,