Assessment of Forest Cover Changes of Sakponba Forest Reserve in Benin City, Nigeria over a 32 year period (1987-2019)

Abstract

Nigeria has been experiencing a surge in population growth affecting her forest over the last decades. Despite the establishment of forest reserves and national parks all over the nation as a way to protect her forest ecosystem, these forests continue to be tremendously degraded due to human population growth and development at the expense of our natural resources. Hence, this study was initiated to evaluate the extent of forest cover changes of Sakponba forest reserve e in Benin City, Nigeria over a 32 year period (1987-2019) using remote sensing and GIS techniques. Landsat data was acquired for the area, pre-processed and exported into a GIS platform for analysis. Findings from this study shows that within 32years (1987 to 2019), Sakponba forest which in 1897 occupied a geographical area of 285. 4971  , has lost 190.4481  of its dense forest area and gained 115.2198   in moderate forest, 74.0934  in open forest and 1.1349  to water. The annual rate of forest deforestation between various year intervals was calculated. The major activities taking place in this forest reserve includes agricultural practises and overexploitation of timber and fuel wood. The degradation of this forest has led to adverse effects in ecological services as well as loss in biodiversity. Therefore, it is suggested that the Edo state government should enact stringent laws protecting this forest reserve, establish sustainable reforestation programs, enlighten and create awareness amongst the people and encourage the planting of ornamental trees to restore more carbon sequestration and thus reduce global warming.