AN APPRAISAL OF THE STRATEGIES FOR MITIGATING DESERTIFICATION IN JIBIA AND KAITA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF KATSINA STATE

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Date
2012-06
Authors
OMALE, ECHE JOHN
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Abstract
This study was conducted on the appraisal of some strategies to mitigate desertification in Jibia and Kaita local government areas of Katsina state. The study covers four decades. Satellite imageries were used to obtain results for the study. The satellite imageries were landsat MSS of 1976, landsat TM of 1987, SPOT XS of 1995 and landsat ETM of 2006, with one satellite imagery for each decade. Results obtained from these imageries show that desertification in the study area has reduced drastically; from 43.43% in 1976 to 1.29% in 2006, this can be attributable to an increase in the mitigation strategies. The major mitigation technique obtained from the imageries is afforestation. The major afforestation technique used in curbing the menace of desertification in the study area is the use of reserve forests. The satellite imageries shows that reserve forest covered only 2.57% of the land area of the study area in 1976 but increased over time to 66.53% in 2006.Shelter belt was 5.9% in 1987 but increased to 7.39% in 2006.It was also discovered that Dominant savannah shrubs/minor tree component/Dense grass,(DOSS/MTC/DG) was only 6.6% in 1976 but increased steadily to 46.30% in 2006. The results also revealed that dominant savannah woodland/Agro forest/Ochard/ Riparian forest (DSW/AF/O/RF) also increased in its area coverage from 4.24% in 1976 to 17.77% in 2006.With these results it can be observed that the area coverage of desertification has reduced drastically over time in the study. Questionnaires were also administered to the inhabitants of the study area and results obtained show that tree planting was the most effective means to curb desertification in the study area.The result shows that 50% responded that tree planting is effective, 30% said it is fairly effective, 3% said it is not effective and 15% said it is very effective. It was also revealed from this study that some organizations such as European Economic Community/Katsina State government EEC/KTSG, Katsina Afforestation Project Unit KTAPU and Local government Councils are the major agencies that are responsible for mitigating desertification in the study area. It is recommended that afforestation programme should be intensified in order to stamp out desertification in the study area completely. Besides more water reservoirs should be constructed for the provision of water for irrigation purposes. Alternative source of fuel wood should be developed to reduce deforestation.
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AN M.Sc RESEARCH THESIS DEPARTMENT OFGEOGRAPHY AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA SUPERVISORS: PROF. E. O. IGUISI DR. A.L.BELLO JUNE 2012
Keywords
APPRAISAL,, STRATEGIES,, MITIGATING,, DESERTIFICATION,, JIBIA,, KAITA,, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS,, KATSINA STATE.
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