Anthropological interference on the vegetation of Wassaniya Forest Reserve In Sokoto, Nigeria
A forest inventory was carried out to investigate the anthropological interference on the vegetation of Wassaniya Forest Reserve in Sokoto state of northwestern Nigeria. Two approaches were employed. Firstly Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS) of 1986 (17- 07-1986) and Landsat 8 Operational La...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2017
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/68442/1/FH%202018%201%20IR.pdf |
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| Summary: | A forest inventory was carried out to investigate the anthropological interference on the
vegetation of Wassaniya Forest Reserve in Sokoto state of northwestern Nigeria. Two
approaches were employed. Firstly Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS) of 1986 (17-
07-1986) and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager Thermal Infrared Sensor (OLI-TIRS)
of 2015 (0-07-2015) were used to capture images of the respective time of the same
study area. The image data were analyzed within Idrisi Taiga environment using Markov
change analysis. The Land Use Land Cover (LULC) changes of both dates 1986 and
2015 were detected to gain an insight into the changes in LULC and to make predictions
for the future (2030). Secondly, a participatory rural approach was conducted using
inclusion and exclusion criteria by administering questionnaires within twelve
communities residing around the study area. A multi-stage random sampling technique
was adopted for selecting 120 respondents, from three (3) villages out of two (2) districts
each in two local government areas of Sokoto State. Result shows that out of the 1,396
individual trees encountered, 46 species were identified belonging to 19 family groups.
Fabaceae has the highest number of species with 13, while Guiera senegalensis and
Combretum micrantum recorded the highest number of frequency of occurrence which
is 575 and 410 respectively. Acacia nilotica and Faretia apondanthera were among the
least with only one (1) representation. Parkia biglobosa has the highest diameter at
breast height (200cm), tree height (48m) and basal area (2.11m3). smallest DBH was
recorded by Annona senegalensis (14cm), while the smallest tree height was recorded
by Faretia apondanthera (4m) and the lowest basal area was recorded by Acacia nilotica
(0.02m3). The highest above ground biomass estimated was recorded by Mitragyna
inermis (5,379 kg) and the lowest was from Grewia mollis (25 kg). With regards to
LULC study, the maximum likelihood classification revealed an accuracy of 86.25%.
The results reveal eight different (LULC) vegetation types based on different conditions
and other site characteristics; dense forest, scrubland, shrubby area, open grassland, and
farmland. Others are dense forest (partly scrubland), dense forest (partly open grassland)
and scrubland (partly open grassland). Change detection between the vegetation types has indicated that dense forest has deteriorated in favor of farmland with a net loss of
100.59ha. It also shows that farmland has increased from 2,061 ha in 1986 to 7,336.53ha
in 2015 which indicates a wide reduction of the forested area due to the pressure mounted
by agricultural activities. Further predictions by 2030 reveal that farmland will increase
by 11.88%. Results from participatory rural appraisal, showed that 39% of the
respondents were youth and 80% of them are polygamous which could be the reason
why they have large families as 82% of the respondents has 6-20 members. Their level
of education was very low, with only 32% attaining primary education. They have a low
level of income because 71% (of the respondents) gain less than USD 157 per month.
Their consumption of staple food by far exceeds their production, of which out of 43.4%
that consume 1120 bags of staple food, only 13% were able to produce enough food
while the remaining 20.4% have to embark on other secondary occupations in order to
feed their families. The secondary occupations includes; collection and selling of
fuelwood (where 78%) of the respondent uses wood and charcoal as fuel), illegal hunter,
seller of non-timber forest products, herder of livestock, carver and blacksmith. All this
invariably explain the dependency of the rural inhabitants on the forest reserve, which
in turn are responsible for forest degradation, deforestation, and desertification. It is
therefore recommended that these local communities are given environmental education
on the importance of forest conservation, and empower to carry-out environmental related
programs, so that they are able to strengthen their livelihood. The dwindling
forest reserves shall be enriched, and some of the farmlands shall be converted into forest
plantations in order to reduce the total dependency on the forest reserve. |
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