Assessing Anthropogenic Impacts on Stubb’s Creek Forest Reserve, Nigeria: A Remote Sensing and GIS Approach

Abstract

Land use-land cover (LULC) changes, particularly in tropical regions like the Niger Delta of Nigeria, are critical drivers of global environmental shifts. This study focuses on the spatial assessment of forest depletion in the Stubb’s Creek Forest Reserve (SCFR) in Akwa Ibom State, amidst rapid infrastructural and industrial developments. The data used includes Landsat 5 of 30m TM, Landsat 7 of 30m TM, and Landsat 8 of 30m ETM for 1986, 2003, and 2018 respectively. Using remote sensing and GIS techniques, the research analyzes LULC dynamics between 1986 and 2018 and projects future trends to 2028. Results reveal a significant depletion of forest covers, particularly the Dense Forest, due to anthropogenic activities like oil and gas exploration and infrastructure development. Over the study period, the Dense Forest cover decreased from 12,296 hectares (41.9% of the total area) in 1986 to 9,149 hectares (31.2%) in 2018. Conversely, built-up areas increased from 1,385 hectares (4.7%) to 3,358 hectares (11.4%) during the same period. The study forecasts a continued decline in forest cover, with a projected Dense Forest cover of 7,474 hectares (25.45%) in 2028. These findings underscore the urgent need for sustainable land management policies to mitigate biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. Remote sensing and GIS tools prove instrumental in monitoring and understanding LULC changes, offering valuable insights for informed decision-making in environmental conservation and land use planning.