TITLE:
Spatial Pattern of Land Cover Change Using Remotely Sensed Imagery and GIS: A Case Study of Omo-Shasha-Oluwa Forest Reserve, SW Nigeria (1986-2002)
AUTHORS:
Oludare H. Adedeji, Clement O. Adeofun
KEYWORDS:
Classification, Land Cover Change, Change-Detection, GIS, Landsat TM and ETM+, Remote Sensing, Omo-Shasha-Oluwa Forest Reserve
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geographic Information System,
Vol.6 No.4,
August
25,
2014
ABSTRACT:
Spatial patterns of land
cover changes in the Omo-Shasha-Oluwa Forest Reserves were conducted on Landsat
TM and ETM+ imageries of 1986 and 2002 using remote sensing and GIS techniques.
Extent of tree plantation (Gmelina arborea) grew from about 145 sq. km
in 1986 to about 322 sq. km in 2002 (122% increase). The natural forest
declined from about 2569 sq. km in 1986 to about 2253 sq. km by 2002, while the
non-forest areas increased by some 5% from 341 km2in 1986 to about 490 km2by 2002. Land cover pattern and its
changes in the study area are linked to both natural and anthropogenic
processes such as illegal logging, demand for soft wood for industries and
expansion of settlements. The conversion of natural forest into monoculture
plantations should be discouraged because they do not give room for
biodiversity. Specific forestry and environmental laws and regulations that
significantly address landscape changes in reserved and protected areas should
be enforced to reduce activities that negatively affect the forest reserves.
There is also the need to develop a wider and more integrated GIS system of the
forest and other land resources in the country to assist different kinds of
planning and management activities.