The Effects of Anthropogenic Activities on the Vegetation of Sokoto Metropolis, Sokoto State, Nigeria

Abstract

The activities of man to sustain life include: the destruction of vegetation. This activity includes the clearing of vegetation for construction of houses and roads among others. As the importance of vegetation is overemphasizing, the cause of its depletion and measures to prevent the vegetation has to be identified. This study aimed at identifying the major cause of vegetation depletion in Sokoto metropolis using questionnaire and base-line interview methods to generate primary data. Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) sensor as Enhances Vegetation Index (EVI) was used to capture images. The data was converted into
IDRISI Raster format from Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) all the geospatial analysis were conducted using IDRISI-Taiga. However, from the results obtained, vegetation in the study areas were depleted to 97% in area “A” 89% in area “D”, 87% in area “B” and 70% in area “C”. The most woody plant species affected is Azadirachta indica to 90% as the highest percentage and lowest percentage of 11%. Among the four most affected herb species among Trianthema monogyna, Ocimum gratissimum, Sida cordifolia and Digitaria debilis, the highest percentage was found with Ocimum gratissiumum with 43.87% while the least affected was found in Digitaria debilis with
12.62%. The researchers recommend to a call up duty to individuals to plant trees around their environs. People should protect the remaining vegetation to stop desert encroachment and fragmentation.