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Dynamics of Land Cover Change in the Anambra River Basin of Nigeria and Implications for Sustainable Land Management

Nnanjar G. Njar

Nnanjar G. Njar

Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, Faculty of Engineering, University of LagosLagos, Nigeria
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Njar, Nnanjar G.
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Chima J. Iheaturu

Chima J. Iheaturu

Land Systems and Sustainable Land Management, Institute of Geography, University of BernBern, Switzerland
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Iheaturu, Chima J.
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Utibe B. Inyang

Utibe B. Inyang

Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, Faculty of Engineering, University of LagosLagos, Nigeria
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Inyang, Utibe B.
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Chukwuma J. Okolie

Chukwuma J. Okolie

  • Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, Faculty of Engineering, University of LagosLagos, Nigeria
  • Centre for Multidisciplinary Research and InnovationAbuja, Nigeria
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Okolie, Chukwuma J.
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Olagoke E. Daramola

Olagoke E. Daramola

Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, Faculty of Engineering, University of LagosLagos, Nigeria
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Daramola, Olagoke E.
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Michael J. Orji

Michael J. Orji

  • Department of Surveying and Geoinformatics, Faculty of Engineering, University of LagosLagos, Nigeria
  • Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of StrathclydeGlasgow, United Kingdom
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Orji, Michael J.
  
Mar 20, 2024
Dynamics of Land Cover Change in the Anambra River Basin of Nigeria and Implications for Sustainable Land Management's Cover Image
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Published Online: Mar 20, 2024
Page range: 179 - 195
Received: Jun 25, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14746/quageo-2024-0011
Keywords
© 2024 Nnanjar G. Njar et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Fig. 1.

Map of Nigeria showing the location of the Anambra River Basin (A). Map of the Anambra River Basin showing the relief pattern and state boundaries (B).
Map of Nigeria showing the location of the Anambra River Basin (A). Map of the Anambra River Basin showing the relief pattern and state boundaries (B).

Fig. 2.

Workflow diagram of the methodology.
Workflow diagram of the methodology.

Fig. 3.

Anambra River Basin land cover maps for 1987, 2000 and 2018.
Anambra River Basin land cover maps for 1987, 2000 and 2018.

Fig. 4.

A comparison of positive and negative changes in land cover; 1987–2000 in blue, 2000–2018 in orange and 1987–2018 in grey colours.
A comparison of positive and negative changes in land cover; 1987–2000 in blue, 2000–2018 in orange and 1987–2018 in grey colours.

Fig. 5.

Transition probability matrix for land cover maps from 1987 to 2000 (A). Transition probability matrix for land cover maps from 2000 to 2018 (B). Transition probability matrix for land cover maps from 1987 to 2018 (C).
Transition probability matrix for land cover maps from 1987 to 2000 (A). Transition probability matrix for land cover maps from 2000 to 2018 (B). Transition probability matrix for land cover maps from 1987 to 2018 (C).

Fig. 6.

Comparison between the classified land cover of 2018 and the predicted land cover of 2018.
Comparison between the classified land cover of 2018 and the predicted land cover of 2018.

Fig. 7.

Projected land cover for 2030.
Projected land cover for 2030.

Correlation relationship between population and land cover_

Population Built-up area Bare land Waterbody Wetland Vegetation
Population 1 1.000** −0.998** −0.999** −0.998** −0.999**
Built-up area 1.000** 1 −0.998** −0.999** −0.998** −0.999**
Bare land −0.998** −0.998** 1 1.000** 1.000** 1.000**
Waterbody −0.999** −0.999** 1.000** 1 1.000** 1.000**
Wetland −0.998** −0.998** 1.000** 1.000** 1 1.000**
Vegetation −0.999** −0.999** 1.000** 1.000** 1.000** 1

Transition matrix of land cover change (km2), 2000–2018_

Land cover class 2018
Waterbody Built-up area Wetland Vegetation Bare land Total
2000 Waterbody 28.20 0.26 6.79 9.16 1.645 46.05
Built-up area 0.06 87.57 1.99 107.46 4.26 201.34
Wetland 3.55 33.66 603.10 452.36 9.34 1102.00
Vegetation 12.27 252.50 427.42 8825.93 124.78 9642.90
Bare land 1.30 8.70 8.61 153.48 12.92 185.01
Total 45.37 382.69 1047.92 9548.39 152.95 11,177.31

Transition matrix of land cover change (km2), 1987–2000_

Land cover class 2000
Waterbody Built-up area Wetland Vegetation Bare land Total
1987 Waterbody 23.69 0.44 3.63 12.10 1.25 41.11
Built-up area 0.08 57.63 0.78 105.20 4.38 168.07
Wetland 5.94 3.66 697.13 1761.91 9.48 2478.13
Vegetation 13.88 132.32 394.69 7676.33 150.77 8367.99
Bare land 2.45 7.18 5.37 84.07 19.09 118.17
Total 46.04 201.24 1101.60 9639.61 184.97 11,173.46

Characteristics of the Landsat imageries_

Landsat mission Path/row Acquisition date Spatial resolution [m] Band composition
Landsat 4–5 TM (Thematic Mapper) 188/55 04.01.1986 30 4–3–2
188/56 21.12.1987
Landsat 7 ETM+ (Enhanced Thematic Mapper) 188/55 17.12.2000 30 5–4–3
188/56 09.01.2001
Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS (Operational Land Imager/Thermal Infrared Sensor) 188/55 09.01.2018 30 6–5–4
188/56 25.01.2018

Areal chanes in land cover in 1987–2000 2000–2018 and 1987–2018_

Land cover class 1987–2000 2000–2018 1987–2018
[km2] [%] [km2] [%] [km2] [%]
Waterbody 4.88 11.85 −0.68 −1.49 4.19 10.20
Built-up areas 33.14 19.69 181.45 90.09 214.59 127.52
Wetland −1377.57 −55.55 −54.16 −4.91 −1431.73 −57.74
Vegetation 1270.49 15.17 −94.49 −0.98 1176.01 14.04
Bare land 66.73 56.41 −32.01 −17.3 34.72 29.36

Comparison between land cover for 2018 and the projected land cover for 2030_

Land cover class 2018 Projected 2030
Waterbody 45.38 44.59
Built-up area 382.87 377.93
Wetland 1047.99 1035.37
Vegetation 9549.34 9572.94
Bare land 153.02 148.06
Total 11,178.58 11,178.90

Transition matrix of land cover change (km2), 1987–2018_

Land cover class 2018
Waterbody Built-up area Wetland Vegetation Bare land Total
1987 Waterbody 21.07 0.48 4.37 13.86 1.34 41.11
Built-up area 0.05 54.21 1.68 108.71 3.44 168.09
Wetland 6.03 43.47 658.79 1755.70 14.26 2478.25
Vegetation 16.07 277.59 380.86 7570.97 122.78 8368.28
Bare land 2.13 6.86 1.88 96.24 11.06 118.17
Total 45.35 382.62 1047.57 9545.48 152.89 11,173.89

Land cover classification scheme_

S/N Land cover class Description
1 Vegetation Cropland and pasture fields, grassland and fallow land
2 Wetland Marsh or swamp
3 Waterbody Inland rivers, ponds and small lakes
4 Built-up area Residential, commercial and industrial areas; settlements; and transportation infrastructure
5 Bare land Tilled farmland, sand-filled land and rocky area

Land cover distribution for 1987, 2000 and 2018_

Land cover class 1987 2000 2018
[km2] [%] [km2] [%] [km2] [%]
Waterbody 41.18 0.37 46.06 0.41 45.38 0.41
Built-up area 168.28 1.51 201.42 1.80 382.87 3.42
Wetland 2479.71 22.18 1102.15 9.86 1047.99 9.37
Vegetation 8373.33 74.89 9643.82 86.27 9549.34 85.43
Bare land 118.29 1.06 185.03 1.66 153.02 1.37
Total 11,180.80 100.00 11,178.48 100.00 11,178.58 100.00
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