URBAN SPRAWL IMPACT ON VEGETATION COVER IN ILORIN PERIPHERY ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Urban sprawl and its effects are a rising topic in today’s spatially different yet, physically definite and similar world. This study aims at evaluating the impacts of urban sprawl on vegetation cover in Ilorin and its environs using geo-spatial techniques. Three satellite images of 1988, 2003 and 2018 were processed, classified and analyzed in ArcGIS 10.4 environment to assess the total spatial loss of vegetation cover due to urban expansion. Built – up and vegetation extent values were extracted from the imageries and the spatial growth and vegetation loss within the study period was established. The findings revealed that the study area witnessed significant reduction in vegetation cover and built–up areas expansion respectively. Agricultural land occupying highest coverage of 174.05 km² (71.66%) in 1988 decreased to 141.05 km² (51.84%) in 2018. The total spatial loss was 33.00 km² (18.96%) at an annual change rate of 1.1km² (0.63%) within the same period. While the built-up area expanded from 27.80km² in 1988 to 67.08 km² in 2018, total spatial change of 39.28 km² (141.29%) was experienced with at annual rate of 1.31 km² (4.71%) within the study period (1988 – 2018). The study concludes that vegetation cover declined with increasing urbanization and urban expansion and recommends that urban spreading to areas with vegetation cover should be controlled as this will have serious repercussions on biodiversity, temperature levels and even food production. Urban expansion may be inevitable, however, with proper management and planning it can be desirable and sustainable.