Geo-spatial Assessment of Land Use/Land Cover (LU/LC) Dynamics in Akoko South West Local Government, Ondo State, Nigeria

Geo-spatial assessment of land use/cover dynamics in Akoko South West Local Government was instigated to bridge the knowledge gap created by data deficiency on the nature, scope and magnitude of land use/cover change in the area. This was done through the analysis of Landsat images of three epochs from 2000 through 2010 to 2020. The processing of the satellite images was done in ArcGIS 10.8 while the analysis and 2030 projection was done in Microsoft office excel using the result from the analysis. QGIS was used to remove the scan lines error on the 2010 image. The result showed increasing built-up area, reducing vegetation and farmlands and diminishing rock outcrops. The changes vary among the different classification characteristics. The increasing change in the second epoch was higher in built up areas while rock outcrops increased in the first epoch. Farmland and vegetation were on reducing trend throughout the study period. However, the moderate change observed in the second epoch for the two land cover classes were not as significant as the first epoch. Government policies on forest reserve should strictly be adhered to in order to preserve the vegetation in the area. People of the area should be advised to diversify their economy in order to avoid total dependence on the forest reserve. Original Research Article Ibilewa et al.; AJGR, 4(3): 46-54, 2021; Article no.AJGR.73461 47


INTRODUCTION
Land uses are the different types of activities that are carried out on land by anthropogenic activities while land cover is defined by the biophysical attributes of land (natural vegetation, water bodies, rock/soil, sand and wastelands) that have an effect on ecosystem process [1]. Land use/land cover (LU/LC) which are mostly influenced by economic, political, cultural and land tenure factors are interconnected and interchangeable in nature. FAO [2] sum up the whole gamut about land use and land cover as any delineable area of the earth's terrestrial surface, involving all attributes of the biosphere above or below this surface, including those of the near-surface climate, the soil and terrain forms, the surface hydrology (including shallow lakes, rivers, marshes and swamps), near-surface layers and associated ground water and geo-hydrological reserve, the plant and animal populations, the human settlement pattern and physical results of past and present human activity (terracing, water storage or drainage structures, roads and buildings). FAO [2] defined Land Cover (LC) as the "observed (bio) physical cover of the earth's surface", and is a synthesis of the many processes taking place on the land. It reflects land occupation (and its transformation) by various natural, modified or artificial systems and to some extent how these systems affect the land. LC is one of the most easily detectable indicators of human intervention on land. Because it can change quickly over time, it is also a good proxy for dynamics of the earth surface resulting from a variety of drivers and factors.
Land use and land cover change has become a central component in current strategies for managing natural resources and monitoring environmental changes (Kaul and Sopan, 2012). Land use and landcover change (LULC) analysis is essential to understand several environmental processes and social phenomenon as these changes reflect major changes on the Earth's land surface [3]. The changes have a multiplier effect on natural resource availability, ecosystem/landscape services and biodiversity [4].
Remotely sensed data from aerial photographs or satellite images are now being used for mapping land use and land cover changes.
Remote Sensing, which is not a solution in itself but only a means to an end, has become a powerful tool in both survey and evaluation of land resources, monitoring changes in the atmosphere and overall land utilization [5]. The detection of land use changes both in the urban and rural areas can be done much faster with the aid of data gathered from Remote Sensing devices, which can be manipulated and subjected to digital analysis. The technique has created unprecedented opportunities for nations to undertake proper inventories and evaluation of their resources; make appropriate plan for their utilization as well as monitor both natural and human-induced changes in the environment [5].
Satellite data have a number of advantages over conventional methods [6]. They provide regular and repetitive coverage; thus, the required information can often be simply extracted from them. The data are available in digital format and so can be used directly in digital cartographic production systems. Data costs are often much less and the cost of establishing ground control is much easier. They are also used to gather information on inaccessible terrain [7].
There is a significant change on LC/LU across the globe due to the climatic changes, rapid increase in population and over demand of the growing economic Minerals [6]. As a result of this change, land use systems need thorough systematic monitoring and management to maintain food security, minimize deforestation, conservation of biological diversity and protection of natural resources. It is necessary to enhance human occupation to the changing social, economic and natural environmental conditions. Rapid increase in population demands for more food, fodder and fuel wood. This has led to large scale environmental degradation and ecological imbalance. In order to use land optimally, it is necessary to have firsthand information about the existing land use/land cover (LU/LC) patterns [6].

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State has undergone tremendous growth and development since inception [8]. This has resulted in increased modification and alterations in the status of its land use land cover over time. This change has continued without any attempt at documentation or comprehensive evaluation to know the magnitude and status. This study was instigated to bridge the huge data gap by evaluating the rate of change in the Local Government Area from year 2000 to 2020 with a view to predict the projected change in the future. The product of the study will provide a baseline information to policy makers on the status of the LU/LC in the study area [9][10][11].

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The study aims to produce the land use land cover map of Akoko South West Local Government area at different epochs to evaluate the changes and predict the future land use/landcover change in the area. This was pursued through the following objectives: To produce the land use/land cover map of the study area.
To determine the nature and scope of change through the analysis of the map produced above 1. To predict the future change in the area 2.
3. To evaluate the implication of the change on the overall socio-economic development of the area.

Study Area
Akoko South West Local Government is one of the eighteen local government areas in Ondo State with the administrative headquarters in Oka Akoko. It is located between longitude 5 0 31 1 11 11           The increased in the first phase might be due to erosion and deforestation in the area which had exposed some of the rock outcrops. The use of this resource in almost all the construction works will definitely continue to reduce its coverage in the area in the nearest future.

Projection of Change
This was done using the forecast function of the Microsoft office excel. By 2030, the built-up area is projected to cover about 47.67 km 2 or 10.11% of the study area in increasing trend while the farmland and vegetation will cover 164.67km 2 (36.69%) and 163.67km 2 (36.06%) respectively in reducing trend.

CONCLUSION
The study has shown that built up area in the study area is increasing while the vegetation and farmland are reducing. However, the change in the second epoch for built up was higher than the first epoch by over 100%. The reduction in the farmland was attributed to the diversification of the economy of the citizens on other sources of income and the consumption of farmland for developmental purposes. The vegetation on the other hand got reduced due to illegal depletion of forest by man despite the government policy on forest reserve in the area. The study has further demonstrated the efficacy of geospatial technology in handling the assessment and mapping of the nature and trend of land use and land cover change dynamics in an area or a region.

DISCLAIMER
The products used for this research are commonly and predominantly use products in our area of research and country. There is absolutely no conflict of interest between the authors and producers of the products because we do not intend to use these products as an avenue for any litigation but for the advancement of knowledge. Also, the research was not funded by the producing company rather it was funded by personal efforts of the authors.