Impact of Urbanization on Greenhouse Gases Emission and its Estimation on Lalubosa Forest Reserve Areas

Abstract

The anthropogenic factors which drive land use change are primarily population pressure on land (i.e. mean population per unit area) which has resulted in undue depletion and degradation of most forest land in Nigeria. Deforestation, reduction in biodiversity, depletion of stratospheric ozone, increases in greenhouse gases, and changes in sea level were among the effects causing climate change. The study investigated the impact of urbanization on Greenhouse gases emission and estimated greenhouse gases emitted in the last twenty years of deforestation using Alalubosa forest reserve in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. Greenhouse gases emission (carbon emission) for each prominent tree species at the study area were calculated using standard method to estimate carbon emission. The estimated carbon emission from the selected tree species: Tectona grandis, Cassia siamea, Pinus caribea, Gmelina arborea, Cedrela odorata, Triplochiton scleroxylon amounted to 2.09×10^-4 MTCha^-1 of carbon loss during this period. The emission of Greenhouse gas (GHG) like CO₂ will induce climate change hence the need for the Government to enumerate carbon stock in forest trees in order to regulate Greenhouse gas (GHGs) emission and embrace reforestation programmes to restore lost economic trees.

Keywords: Greenhouse gases, urbanization, prominent tree species, Alalubosa forest reserve