Abstract:
Man has generally influenced the earth’s terrestrial surface in different ways. Land is becoming a scarce resource due to immense demographic pressure. Man has been modifying land to obtain food and other essentials for several years, but the current rate is high compared with the past decades. Therefore, this work seeks to study the landuse landcover changes in some selected stations in Anambra State, Nigeria. Landsat medium resolution imagery data which was derived from Global land facility, University of Maryland for 1986, 2000 and 2013 were used. Analysis of 1986, 2000 and 2013 landsat medium resolution imagery data revealed that built-up areas increased over the years under study while vegetation decreased as a result of rural-urban migration. Land consumption rate of Ifite-Ogwari was 1.941 in 2000 and 1.761 in 2013 while Land absorption coefficient of 1.048 X 10-4.Land consumption rate of Awka was 6.757 in 2000 and 6.53 in 2013 while the land absorption coefficient was 4.518 X 10-5. Land consumption rate of was 1.243 in 2000 and 1.479 in 2013 while the Land absorption coefficient of 8 X 10-5 in Onitsha. In Awka, there is the possibility that by the year 2025, the percentage of built-up areas would have increased from 51% in 2013 to 54.20 and vegetation will drop from 39% in 2013 to 37.82% in 2025, gully areas from 10% in 2013 to 8.28 in 2025 and water bodies from 0% in 2013 to -0.03%. Built-up areas will increase from the scenario of landuse landcover present and vegetation, gully areas and water bodies will decrease by the year 2025.
There is possibility that by the year 2025, the percentage of built-up areas would have increased from 61% in 2013 to 62.91%, vegetation from 32% in 2013 to 34.08%, water bodies from 7% in 2013 to 7.43% and gully areas would have decreased from 0% in 2013 to -4.42%. Built-up areas, vegetation and water bodies will increase from the scenario of landuse landcover present while gully areas and bare surfaces will decrease by the year 2025 in Onitsha.
