LAND USE AND LANDCOVER DYNAMICS AS SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION STRATEGY FOR ECO-HYDROLOGICAL STRESS ON JIKWATHLAR SPRING, BIU PLATEAU REGION, NORTHEASTERN NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10/3303/jees.2026.0301/021Keywords:
Hydrological Implications, Jikwathlar Spring, Land use and Land cover, Watershed ManagementAbstract
This study investigates the spatio-temporal dynamics of land use and land cover (LULC) change in the Garkida–Taula catchment of the Biu Plateau region, Northeastern Nigeria, and its implications for the hydrological sustainability of the Jikwathlar Spring. Landsat imagery from 1982–2022 was processed in ArcGIS 10.8, using mosaicking, subsetting, and supervised classification to delineate four LULC categories: Bare Surface, Grasses/Farmland, Woodland, and Dense Vegetation. LULC change detection was conducted using matrix analysis and ANOVA to quantify spatial transitions, magnitudes, and annual rates of change. Results revealed significant spatio-temporal variability in the catchment. Bare surface and grass/Farmland areas consistently expanded between 1982 and 2022, increasing by approximately 8% and 15%, respectively, largely due to agricultural intensification, grazing, and fuelwood extraction. In contrast, Woodland and Dense Vegetation declined from 34% and 24% in 1982 to 24% and 11% in 2022, reflecting deforestation pressures and climatic stress. Periodic vegetation recovery was observed in 2002 and 2022, attributed to improved rainfall and reduced anthropogenic activities during the Boko Haram insurgency, which rendered large portions of the catchment inaccessible. Spatially, over 58% of the catchment experienced LULC transformation during the study period, while 41.9% remained significantly static. The Jikwathlar Spring and its surrounding grove persisted within this stable zone, maintaining ecological integrity despite broader landscape alterations. The study concludes that sustained vegetation degradation poses long-term risks to groundwater recharge and spring discharge within the catchment. Effective watershed management, reforestation, and land-use regulation are therefore essential to safeguard the hydrological resilience of Jikwathlar Spring and ensure ecosystem stability in the Biu Plateau region.
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