Effect of urbanization on forest resources in gboko local government area of Benue state

ABSTRACT

This research investigated the influence of urbanization on forest degradation within the Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria, focusing specifically on the Yandev Forest Plantation. The primary goals were to determine the socio-economic factors contributing to forest depletion, assess changes in land use and land cover (LULC) over time, and develop practical management strategies for conservation.

A survey involved distributing 100 questionnaires across five adjacent communities, with 85 responses successfully collected and used for analysis. The research integrated primary field data and secondary literature with Landsat satellite imagery from 1987, 2007, and 2020. The results indicate that agricultural expansion is the most significant cause of degradation (52.94%), followed by the collection of firewood (11.76%) and bush burning (11.76%).

Furthermore, remote sensing data revealed an alarming reduction in forest cover from an initial 331 hectares to just 36 hectares over the thirty-three-year period. The study concludes that uncontrolled human activities, led by agricultural needs, pose the most severe threats to the Yandev Forest Plantation. Immediate and decisive conservation efforts are required to prevent the total loss of the forest.