ABSTRACT
Land use and land cover (LULC) refers to a diverse range of physical characteristics comprising surfaces of the earth, which comprises of different urban and vegetative areas and types. The rapid expansion of human activities, driven by demographic growth and socio-economic development, has resulted to major significant alterations within land utilization and coverage patterns within Northern Nigeria over a period of three decades. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of the land use and cover changes in the Kano state spanning 1992 up until 2022 by employing data from remote sensing as well as geographic information systems (GIS) technology for the years 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017 and 2022 to capture the pace and extent of urban expansion, understand the recent state of the land cover, determine the urbanization trajectory, identify the changes, trends and drivers of land and changes within its vegetative cover. This study showed that land utilization increased significantly over the past three decades. The gradual decline in forest resources, in particular, has implications for carbon sequestration, soil erosion control, and climate regulation, highlighting the need for comprehensive land management strategies, environmental conservation efforts, and sustainable land development planning to resolve complex challenges that often arises from rapid land use changes. The research findings provided invaluable insights of the several dynamics of landscape change and the complex interactions between human activities and natural ecosystems. This will contribute more knowledge to already existing knowledge in regards to land use dynamics for Kano State, particularly in the context of the northern regions which have unique socio-economic and environmental characteristics. Government, policymakers, planners, as well as all relevant stakeholders can utilize recommendations from this study to create strategies and informed interventions that will promote sustainable development, enhance environmental resilience, and safeguard the long-term well-being of Kano state's ecosystems and communities.
