Determination of spatio-temporal pattern of land cover changes in Sokoto-Rima River Basin, Sokoto State, North-Western Nigeria

Abstract

Natural forest ecosystems provide services that contribute to human well-being such as food, medicines, fuel wood, fresh water and climate regulation. In spite of this, most natural forest ecosystems have been converted or modified into agricultural areas and other human land use to maximize single-purpose use. The objective of this study was to determine spatio-temporal pattern of land cover change in the study area from 1984 to 2019 in Sokoto-Rima River Basin. The methodologies used in the study area include GIS analysis for land use land cover mapping. The result shows that land-use change has taken place in the study area and that human activities had taken a considerable toll on the land-use change. From 1984 to 2019 forest area had decreased at the rates of 7.29% and 9.45%, while grass land increased by 6.69%, also farmland and built-up increase.