Assessment of Land Degradation in Dambatta Local Government Area Using Remote Sensing Techniques

Abstract

Kano State is one of the frontline states in northern Nigeria that have suffered land degradation. This degradation results from urbanization and anthropogenic influence. In Danbatta Local Government Area (LGA), persistent degradation of the land has adversely affected the environment and the economy and there is lack of studies on land degradation in the area. Therefore, this study assessed land degradation in Dambatta Local Government Area (LGA) of Kano State paying special attention to the causes and effects of the reduction in the lands’ actual or potential uses. The images used for the research analysis were obtained from National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Abuja. The data sets were captured by Landsat Multispectral Scanner/Thematic Mapper (MSS/TM) 1997, Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) 2007 and Operational Land Imager (OLI) 2017. Post classification change detection technique was conducted in ILWIS 5.2, and later converted to shape files where it was imported to Arc Map 10.2 GIS software. The results showed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) ranges from −0.056 to 0.18 in 1997, −0.07 to 0.11 in 2007 and −0.128 to 0.217 in 2017. This depicts that there has been a progressive loss in vegetation cover in Dambatta LGA over a period of 20 years with corresponding acceleration in bare lands and developed areas. The Land Surface Temperature (LST) results generally show a continuous and constant increase in surface temperature from the developed and urban areas to the undeveloped and rural areas. The LST results also show that no area under consideration in the study area experienced an extreme temperature (≥44˚C) during the period of study. In 2017, a large part of the study area fell within the higher temperature zones (≥40˚C) and other areas fell into mid-temperature zones (35˚C - 40˚C). This high surface temperature resulted from increase in bare land, high insolation, urbanization, anthropogenic influences and large distribution of imperviousness or geographical relief of the area. It was suggested that afforestation and sustainable development should be encouraged and strengthened in the area. In addition, studies should be carried out on the appropriate solution to the land degradation problem in Dambatta LGA, Kano State. Furthermore, Local Government Areas neighboring Dambatta LGA should also be analyzed on the issue of land degradation.