ABSTRACT
This study investigated the identification and mapping of land cover changes of Akure Forest reserve in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Currently, deforestation constitutes one of the global developmental challenges. The broad objective of this study is using multi-spectral satellite data to observe land cover changes within the forest reserve and to bridge the knowledge gap created by data deficiency on the nature, scope and magnitude of land use/cover change in the area. Landsat 5 TM, 7 ETM+ and 800 LI were accrued for 1986, 2003 and 2023 respectively. Four (4) land cover types were generated. Based on land cover changes with respect to the area, spatial analysis revealed that the bare area had percentage area of 63.3 %, 43.24 % and 40.40 %., Built-up area had 16.9 %, 0.89 % and 16.36 %, dense forest region 11.5 %, 43.16 % and 29.79 % and sparse vegetation 8.3 %, 12.71 % and 12.52 % for 1986, 2003, and 2023 respectively. A clear alteration in the land covered by water bodies was visible only in the year 2023, accounting for 0.91 %. Percentage change for the land cover changes showed bare areas had 35.23 %, 33.89 %, and 3.39 %, while built-up areas, 92.89 %, 19.2 % and -89.12 %, dense Forest -45.03 %, -29.18 % and 18.32 %, and sparse vegetation, 0.71 % -3.64 %, -36.13 % for 1986-2003, 1986-2023, 2003 -2023 respectively. The result on magnitude of change and rate of annual change for bare area, built-up, dense forest, sparse vegetation and water body depicted -23.56 km², -11.64 km², 13.43 km², 0.451 km² and 0.03 km², 0.028 km², 0.07 km², 0.15 km², -1.69 km² from 1986-2023. 1986-2023; -24.97 km², -3.89 km², 6.74 km², 0.36 km², 0.46 km² and 0.03 km², 0.1 km², 0.09 km², 0.16 km² and -1.69 km². 2003-2023; -1.41 km², 7.74 km², -6.69 km², -0.09 km², 0.46 km² and 0.48 km², 0.37 km², 0.06 km², 0.16 km² and -1.69 km² respectively. From the result it shows changes vary among the different classification characteristics. It is absolutely essential that we follow the government's forest reserve rules to keep the plants safe and sound.
