Geographic Information System (GIS) Assessment of Anthropogenic Impacts on Mangrove Forests in Parts of Rivers State, Nigeria
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Abstract
Mangrove
forests are vital coastal ecosystems that provide a range of ecological,
economic, and protective services. However, these ecosystems are increasingly
threatened by anthropogenic activities, particularly in resource-rich regions
like Rivers State, Nigeria. This study employed Geographic Information System
(GIS) and remote sensing techniques to assess the spatio-temporal changes in
mangrove forest cover in selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) Gokana, Andoni,
Asari-Toru, and Degema from 1995 to 2024. Multi-temporal Landsat satellite
images were analyzed using supervised classification to delineate land use/land
cover (LULC) categories including mangroves, freshwater vegetation, built-up
areas, and water bodies. The results revealed a significant and progressive
decline in mangrove coverage across the LGAs, with Gokana and Andoni
experiencing a 59.49% loss, and Asari-Toru and Degema a 42.67% loss over the
study period. Conversely, built-up areas and freshwater vegetation expanded
considerably, indicating growing urbanization and possible ecological
succession. The findings strongly suggest that human-induced activities such as
infrastructure development, oil exploration, and land reclamation are the primary
drivers of mangrove degradation. This study underscores the urgent need for
targeted conservation strategies, sustainable land-use planning, and
strengthened environmental regulations to preserve the remaining mangrove
forests and restore degraded areas.
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