Mapping of Ecological Risk Zones in Kogi State of Nigeria with Remote Sensing and GIS

摘要

Remote Sensing has been used to study the characteristic properties of the surface of the earth due to the advantages of its broad area of observation and periodicity. This study presents a study carried out to map the ecological risk zones of Kogi State in Central Nigeria by integrating the analytical tools of Geographic Information System (GS) with Remote Sensing (RS). Landsat ETM + image data of 2005 was used for the identification and mapping of ecologically fragile areas in the state. Seasonally flooded areas, areas susceptible to soil erosion and gully development and other vulnerable areas were identified and demarcated. The study revealed that about 2636 km2 or 21.42% of the territory of the state is flooded annually and also prone to soil erosion. The impact of this on the subsistence agricultural practice in the state is quite enormous. The study underlined the importance of creating the necessary mechanism by the state and Federal Government Agencies to monitor, check and control these problems.