ASSESSING LAND COVER CHANGE IN LANGTANG – SOUTH LOCALGOVERNMENT AREA, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA USING GIS AND REMOTE SENSING TOOLS: A CASE STUDY APPROACH.

Abstract

This study investigates land use and land cover changes LULC in Langtang South Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria, over a 15-year period (2007–2022). Landsat 7 satellite imagery was sourced from the USGS EROS database for December 7, 2007 (Image ID: 200701207_02), and December 9, 2022 (Image ID: 20221209_02). The imagery was processed and analyzed using ArcGIS 10.3.1 software to examine spatial and temporal land cover change variations within the study area. Findings revealed notable LULC dynamics. Bare land increased significantly from 1.76% in 2007 to 7.05% in 2022, suggesting rising land degradation. Farmland, which dominated in 2007, declined substantially from 75.59% to 66.75%, indicating potential shifts in agricultural practices or land conversion. Settlement areas saw a modest rise, increasing from 0.16% to 0.57%, reflective of urban expansion. Vegetation cover experienced a positive change, growing from 22.27% to 25.13%, likely due to reforestation or conservation efforts. Water bodies also increased slightly from 0.21% to 0.51%, potentially influenced by improved rainfall or water management systems. The confusion matrix analysis revealed classification challenges, particularly between bare land and farmland, settlement and vegetation, and vegetation and water bodies, highlighting the need for advanced classification techniques to improve accuracy. To address the observed changes, the study suggests the implementation of sustainable land use policies, reforestation programs, and urban planning strategies to mitigate land degradation and promote environmental stability. Additionally, integrating local communities in land management decisions can foster long-term conservation goals and reduce the impacts of urbanization and agriculture on land cover.