Abstract
This study aims to assess and quantify forest transition within and around one of the few remaining forest protected landscapes in south west Nigeria, Okomu forest reserve. The study utilised multi-temporal Landsat and UK-DMC-2 satellite images over three epochs (1987, 1999 and 2011) to assess forest landscape change over the study area. The unsupervised Iterative Self Organising Data Analysis technique was used to generate forest maps and subsequently used for forest change detection over two periods (1987 – 1999 and 1999 – 2011). From the results generated we were able to determine the effectiveness level of forest protected status assigned the study area as a means of reducing deforestation from 1987 to 2011. To achieve this objective, trends of forest change within and around the reserve were investigated. These result showed that forest protected status assigned to the reserve has not fully mitigated the effects of deforestation within and around the reserve. The annual deforestation rates of the reserve increased from 3.5% in period 1 (1987 – 1999) to 5.1% in period 2 (1999 – 2011). We suggest that government needs to review forest policies and laws and improve upon the technical capacity of forest managers to improve forest management. Overall, the study has demonstrated the usefulness of using remote sensing and geographic information system to better understand dynamics of forest cover transition in forest protected areas across tropical forests.
Highlights
Over time, intense human activities such as: large-scale illegal logging, industrialisation, expansion of large rubber and oil-palm plantations within the reserve, uncontrolled hunting, and rise in human population have led to massive destruction of forest cover and the unique wildlife of Okomu Forest Reserve (OFR) (Ajayi, 2011, White and Oates, 1999)
Following surveys aimed at evaluating conservation status in south western Nigeria (Anadu et al, 1988), the establishment of the Okomu National Park (ONP) was setup within the core of the reserve owing to immense pressure from high rates of exploitation and human settlement expansion on its periphery
Such information would serve as a valuable resource to both federal and state government and other stakeholders charged with the responsibility of managing this fragile forest ecosystem, one of the very few forest protected area (PA) in south west Nigeria
Summary
Intense human activities such as: large-scale illegal logging, industrialisation, expansion of large rubber and oil-palm plantations within the reserve, uncontrolled hunting, and rise in human population have led to massive destruction of forest cover and the unique wildlife of Okomu Forest Reserve (OFR) (Ajayi, 2011, White and Oates, 1999). Following surveys aimed at evaluating conservation status in south western Nigeria (Anadu et al, 1988), the establishment of the Okomu National Park (ONP) was setup within the core of the reserve owing to immense pressure from high rates of exploitation and human settlement expansion on its periphery. Sufficient scientific research aimed at estimating the actual level of disturbance to this threaten forest reserve is currently lacking. Such information would serve as a valuable resource to both federal and state government and other stakeholders charged with the responsibility of managing this fragile forest ecosystem, one of the very few forest PA in south west Nigeria
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
