Land Use and Land Cover Pattern of Three Forest Reserves in Ondo State, Nigeria
Ogunsanmi Olawale A. *
Rain Forest Research Station, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Nigeria.
Eniola Taiwo S.
Rain Forest Research Station, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Nigeria.
Oyerinde, O. V.
Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Land use land cover change is a pressing environmental issue affecting forest-dependent communities' livelihoods and the long-term viability of forest ecosystems. The study utilized satellite imagery to identify the primary drivers of land use and land cover (LULC) changes and classify LULC types within the study area, focusing on the rate and trends of change in Ondo State Forest Reserves between 1984 and 2024. The research methodology incorporated the use of a Geographic Positioning System (GPS) and the processing of field data through Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing tools, specifically the Integrated Land and Water Information System (ILWIS). These tools enabled the identification of various LULC classes across the three forest reserves in Ondo State. The findings revealed that agricultural expansion was the most significant driver of LULC changes, accounting for the highest percentage (32.7%) of observed changes. Additionally, the Landsat classification results indicated that by 2024, sparse vegetation constituted the dominant LULC class, covering 68.2% of the forest reserves. The study recommends that the Department of Forestry and the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development in Ondo State should implement policies promoting local participation in forestry management and conservation.
Keywords: Land use and land cover, land and water information system, geographic information systems, forest-dependent communities