TITLE:
Evaluating the Role of Shelterbelt in Vegetation Development in a Semi Arid Zone of Yobe State, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Bulus Luka Gadiga, Yakubu Dan
KEYWORDS:
Desertification, Shelterbelts, Vegetation Cover, Vegetation Dynamics, Arid Land
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geographic Information System,
Vol.7 No.5,
October
30,
2015
ABSTRACT: This study evaluates the role of
shelterbelts on the development and dynamics of vegetation in relation to
livelihoods in the study area using geo-information techniques. The study
covered the period between 1972 and 2007. The results show that in 1972
vegetation cover in the study area extended over an area of 6955 hectares (i.e.shrubs, grasses and trees) which
represents 65% of the area; however there was a decrease in 1986 to an area of
5779 hectares (54%). Despite the establishment of shelterbelt in the area in
1987, the trend did not change. This is obvious in the reduction of vegetation
cover between 1986 and 2000 to a total area of 3893 hectares (37%). The
vegetation cover further decreased to 2791 hectares (26%) in 2005 and 1659
hectares (16%) in 2007 respectively. The study concludes that the establishment
of shelterbelts alone cannot guarantee the success of vegetation cover
development in the area without a sustainable plan which recognizes the local
communities as critical stakeholders. Thus, variables like population growth
and GDP have a role to play in vegetation cover depletion. The study recommends
that efforts geared towards enlightenment of the local communities on the need
for conservation should be encouraged by Government and Non-Governmental
Organisations.