Assessment of Land Use Land Cover Change in the Borgu Sector of Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria: The Role of Landsat 7 Etm Images in Park Management.

Abstract

Rapid ecological assessment, land use and land cover change analysis are prerequisite for improved park management and conservation, so that the maps produced ‘tell accurate story’of development in Borgu park. This paper analyses the contribution of Landsat 7 ETM images in an effort to improve on the current information available on the distribution and status of land cover in borgu sector of kanji lake national park in the savanna region of Nigeria. The current maps of the study site portray this information by assigning a generalized class of dominantly trees/woodland/shrubs with subdominant grass component to existing land cover. With the aid of intensive field work, a more accurate classification can be achieved. The outcome of the study shows that within the park, gradual changes had taken place from woodland to grassland/shrubs to degraded land over the years. Thus, portraying the need for more accurate maps in acceptable skills of 1;10000 to 1;50,000. In other to safeguard the national park from management problems caused by illegal human activities such as hunting of wildlife, grazing of life stock, human settlement and farming, the park authorities need to regularly update land cover maps of the area. This would help set up improved management and conservation plans which depend on careful inventorying and monitoring of the resources within the park. Also, for policy makers and managers of the national park, the problem of integrating conflicting demands of lands use, ecological conservation and resource protection will be minimized, if information is within easy reach as and when due. This can give way to develop a carbon sink project to attract more funding for managing the park.