Browsing by Author "Alfred, Buba Y."

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    The Causality of Deforestation in North-Central Nigeria: Case Study of Shendam Urban Area, Plateau State
    (Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2017-01-01) Alfred, Buba Y.; Haruna, Ayuba K,.; Sule, Jibrin; Nyadar, Birmah, M.; Timnan, Nden
    Deforestation in Africa is a major contributor to global warming, erosion, annual flooding and food shortage in Africa. In Africa, 90 percent of the population uses wood for fuel. Forests provide many products/benefits to the people but these forest resources are depleted continuously without replacement. Shendam District is geographically located between latitude 8º53′43.88″N and longitude 9º27′13.41″S in Shendam Local Government Area (L.G.A) of Plateau State, Nigeria. The research was a case study undertaken to assess the causalities of deforestation and questionnaires were administered in ward A, ward B and Pangwasa ward of Shendam District. Anthropogenic activities is the cause of forest lost in the study area and the major effects outlined in the study area are biodiversity loss, high temperature, soil erosion, migration and flooding. The activities causing damage to roads, culverts and bridges in Shendam District and its environs. Reducing the rates of deforestation and forest regeneration is among the solution to deforestation in Shendam district and its environs. Better management practices requires the need for Public Sensitization on the effects of deforestation, Public Private Partnership (PPP) in tree planting, Rural –Urban Afforestation Programme and the policy of cutone- tree and plant-five trees instead, should be enforced in Shendam District. Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) should be strengthened for capacity development and human empowerment. The measures will provide alternative means of livelihood and reduce soil erosion, land degradation, flood impact, not only in Shendam L.G.A., but the entire Plateau State.
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    ESTABLISHING THE RATES OF DEFORESTATION USING GIS AND REMOTE SENSING TOOLS IN SHENDAM DISTRICT, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
    (Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2017-03-07) Alfred, Buba Y.; Ayuba, H.K.; Kigun, Philip A.; Surajo., L.A.
    This study presents an estimate of deforestation rates in Shendam district, geographically located at latitude 8º53′43.88″N and longitude 9º27′13.41″S, in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. The study was carried out using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools/ Remote Sensing Applications and field observation to establish the rates and extend of forest resources depletion within the study area. The Center for Remote Sensing, Jos, Plateau State, generated the Land use Cover Data for the years, 1994, 2004, 2014,using Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) at 30m Resolution. The results from (1994-2014) shows 173.3 hectares of forest lost and (2004-2014) shows 128.3 hectares of forest cover lost annually. In1994, the vegetation cover of the study area was characterized by forest (39.3%), shrubs (31.9%), farmlands (20.8%) and built-up area had (8.0%) which implies that there was less farming activity in the study area at that time. In 2014, however, forest cover decreased to 11.2%, shrubs reduced to 25.6% farmlands increased to 38.1%, while built-up area rose to 25.1%. This indicates an increase in human settlement and farming activities in shendam district. The following recommendations were offered: Afforestation policy should be reviewed to strengthened forest management and Social investment programmes should be introduced to empower the less privileged. The policy of cut one-plant five trees initiative should be embraced for the purpose of environmental sustainability in Shendam District.