Effects of Artisanal and Small Scale Mining on Land Use and Land Cover in Awe, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Land use and land cover impact on the local, regional and global environment. Therefore, this paper assessed the effects of artisanal and small-scale mining on land use and land over (LULC) in Awe, Nasarawa State. Specifically, the objectives of study entailed a time series analysis of LULC between 1986, 1996 and 2006 using LandSat 4 TM, LandSat 7 ETM+ and LandSat8 (OLI). Major land use classes used to determine changes in land use/ cover are built-up area, vegetation, farmlands, mining pits and water bodies. These were classified using the Maximum Likelihood Classifier. Results obtained are summarised using descriptive statistics and presented in tables and charts. The results show that major changes were observed in the built-up area, mining area and farmland land use and land cover types. Findings showed an upward trend in built-up areas from 157km2 (6.3%) in 1986 to 371 km2 (14%) in 1996, 413 km2 (16%) in 2006 and 616.5 km2 (24%) in 2016. Similarly, mining areas increased from 5.23km2(0.21%) in 1986 to 18.15km2 (0.71%) in 1996, 34.191km2 (34.2%) in 2006 and 105.3km2 (4.1%) in 2016. However, farmlands declined consistently from 1445.5km2 (57%) in 1986, 1002.5km2 (37%) in 1996, 954km2 (37%) in 2006 and 751.8492km2(29.3%) in 2016. It is concluded that land use and land cover changes as well as uncontrolled mining activities contribute to the existing environmental deterioration in the study area. Therefore, there is a need to implement and enforce sustainable mining methods, effective monitoring of mining activities through strict adherence to the country’s EIA standard and proper management of land resources