modelling LULC dynamics on the physical environment of Benue
- Project Research
- 1-5 Chapters
- Abstract : Available
- Table of Content: Available
- Reference Style: APA
- Recommended for : Student Researchers
- NGN 3000
Statement of the Research Problem
The world population is increasingly becoming urban day by day and this has been causing a lot of concerns in the last few decades. Studies have shown that rapid urban growth can lead to social, physical and environmental problems (Mundhe and Jaybhaye, 2014; Ohwo and Abotutu, 2015). Under such urbanisation conditions, farmland and forests at urban suburbs may be transformed to built-up and industrialized areas which degrades the environment. Certainly, increase in population may give rise to the expansion of urban areas which causes alteration in LULC in many urban cities (Triantakonstantis and Mountrakis, 2012; Hashem and Balakrishnan, 2015; Mundhe and Jaybhaye, 2014; Opatoyinbo et al., 2015). The rate of such changes is apparent in less developed countries where the percentage of population increase is high like Nigeria and 7 Benue State in particular. These irrepressible urban changes in Nigerian cities have created a lot of physical and social challenges, including the destruction of vegetation. This discrete development around the city leads to unplanned development if not well planned (Sankhala and Singh, 2014).Of particular concern is how earth’s resources will match the concentration of human populations in urban areas especially in developing countries. A lot of problems are connected with the transformation of forests to farmland and then into urban use. Urban growth leads to more decrease and alteration of vegetation as more ecosystems are disturbed and habitats are destroyed (Skwirk, 2014). Before the 1980s, a large number of forest resources in Nigeria that remained relatively intact have disappeared in the last few decades due to greater demand thereby threatening the forest cover especially as there is no proper management and planning (Danburi, 2015).Disappearance of open spaces is but one of the challenges of urban expansion. However, despite predictions that the urban populations globally will rise considerably by 2030, not so much is known about future locations, extents, and rates of urban growth. While this population is increasing in Nigeria, the resources to manage the cities are dwindling. The increased movement of persons into the urban areas from the rural communities to benefit from the apparent opportunities provided by these urban areas, creates a lot of problems on both the socio-economic infrastructure and the resources of the environment (Ohwo and Abotutu, 2015). For example, growth of urban areas has been identified as being responsible for a lot of environmental problems, which include air, water, land and noise pollution, deforestation, local climate modification, and traffic congestions (Lanrewaju, 2012) . Despite the unceasing rapid urbanisation and urban growth going on in Nigeria, many towns in Nigerian cities do not have suitable development plans and precise information 8 on the percentage and pattern of urban expansion that is vital for future development planning. Responding to these issues has been problematic as we do not know exactly what the future scenarios will be. Benue State has four major urban areas comprising Makurdi, Gboko, Otukpo and Katsina-Ala. These urban areas are fast-growing and during the past thirty years have experienced high rate of population increase as a result of rural-urban migration but there exists a gap in modelling the future pattern of their growth and the impact on vegetation change. The key challenges posed by urban growth in Benue State are shortage of infrastructure and rapid deforestation (Adewumi, 2013; Ohwo and Abotutu, 2015). The new areas of growth are faced with shortages or complete absence of good roads, water, electricity, health care facilities, schools and security. The growth of urban areas also gave rise to the clearance of vegetation thereby depriving the new areas benefits of ecosystem services such as provision of shade, wind control, pollution control through removal of carbon-dioxide and oxygen production, reduction of run-off and increase in water quality. The need to monitor the growth of these urban areas and be able to predict future scenarios for proper planning is, therefore, very pertinent. These processes of urban growth are not static but dynamic with time with their attendant consequences. Information on the future effects of these changes, their trends and future states is however lacking or scarce in Benue State. This research was aimed at filling this gap.
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