Integrated land resources analysis with an application to Ikem (south-eastern Nigeria)

Abstract

A methodology was developed for an integrated assessment of land resources and land use, and applied to Ikem, south-eastern Nigeria. Findings from participatory rural appraisals (PRA) were related to two sets of aerial photographs (1962: 1:6000; 1982: 1:40,000). A two level PRA elicited relationships between soil-landscapes, land cover, land use and local classification schemes at both individual and village decision-making levels. At the field scale, local knowledge on the land was coupled with scientific data collected along toposequences and additional verification transects. Individually owned homegardens are agro-forestry systems involving field crops, vegetables and valued multi-purpose trees such as oil palm. The family-owned fields involve a mixture of food and tree crops. The land cover was a good indication of the fallow period used on fields in the communal farmlands as woody species no longer establish in short fallow periods. At the village scale, participatory land resources mapping was combined with aerial photograph interpretation to create soil-landscape and land cover/use maps that can be used for planning purposes at the local government. Additional archival research supported evidence that the growing population and subsequent land scarcity has led to shortened fallow periods and reduced numbers of woody species in the farmlands. The establishment of new settlements and the gradual increase of private land followed by the planting of tree cash crops have intensified agricultural land use resulting in a higher tree density across a larger area. Agricultural expansion predominantly took place on the relatively fertile land along the rivers. Results indicate the need for a non-ambiguous government policy concerning land tenure that recognises traditional land ownership dynamics.