Urbanization and Loss of Wetland in Port-Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Urban development in wetland ecosystems for human settlement, agriculture and industrial development is one of the biggest threats to wetland conversion and management. Prediction of future urban expansion is very useful for urban planners and environmental managers in rapidly growing cities. This study aims to examine urbanization and loss of wetland in the Port-Harcourt metropolis, using remote sensing techniques. The study analyzes land use /land cover changes (LULC) using landsat5 TM and landsat7 ETM images of 1984,1999, 2003 and 2013.Through this study, the pattern of urban expansion for the next 29 years has been studied and changes in the distant future (30 years from now) have also been predicted. The satellite images covering the area were acquired and analyzed using ArcGIS10.0, ERDAS IMAGE 2014 and IDRISI Selva. A total area of 40066.59 hectares was delineated in the study area which is identified as area with potential for expansion. After processing the imagery, five land use/land cover LULC classes where developed in ERDAS environment, such as salt water wetland, freshwater wetland, fallow land, built-up areas and water bodies. Accuracy assessment using kappa statistics shows that overall accuracy assessment as of 1984 was 90.00% (0.85 kappa coefficient), in 1999 it was 88.00% (0.8337 kappa coefficient), in 2003 it was 100% (1.0000 kappa statistics) and in 2013 it was 100% (1.0000 kappa coefficient). The study concluded that there is need for wise use of wetland resources and improvement of institutional arrangement so that wetland policies can be fully integrated into the planning process across all disciplines.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Title Page - - - - - - - - - - i

Certification - - - - - - - - - - ii

Dedication - - - - - - - - - - iii

Table of Contents - - - - - - - - - iv

Acknowledgement - - - - - - - - - vii

List of Figures - - - - - - - - - viii

List of Plates - - - - - - - - - ix

List of Tables - - - - - - - - - x

Abstract - - - - - - - - - - xi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study - - - - - - - 1

1.2 Statement of the Research Problem - - - - - - 5

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Research - - - - - - 8

1.4 The Study Area - - - - - - - - 8

1.4.1 Location - - - - - - - - - 8

1.4.2 Climate - - - - - - - - - 10

1.4.3 Relief and Drainage - - - - - - - - 11

1.4.4 Soil and Vegetation - - - - - - - - 13

1.4.5 Population - - - - - - - - - 14

1.4.6 Economic Activities - - - - - - - - 14

1.5 Literature Review - - - - - - - - 15

1.6 Conceptual/Theoretical Framework - - - - - - 26

1.6.1 Concept of Urbanization- - - - - - - - 26

1.6.2 Concept of Sustainable Development- - - - - - 27

1.6.3 The Concept of Wise Use in Wetland Ecosystem - - - - 28

1.6.4 Theory of Ecosystem Management - - - - - - 31

1.6.5 Ecosystem Model- - - - - - - - - 32

1.6.6 Land use /Land Degradation Model - - - - - - 34

1.7 Research Methodology- - - - - - - - 35

1.7.1 Reconnaissance Survey- - - - - - - - 35

1.7.2 Data Acquired and Sources - - - - - - - 37

1.7. 3 Geo- Referencing Properties of the Images - - - - - 39

1.7. 4 Software Used- - - - - - - - - 39

1.7.5 Image Enhancement - - - - - - - - 39

1.7.6 Image Classification - - - - - - - - 40

1.7.7 Classification Smoothing- - - - - - - - 41

1.7.8 Selection of a Classification Scheme-- - - - - - 42

1.7.9 Method of Data Analysis- - - - - - - - 43

Plan of the Project - - - - - - - - 45

CHAPTER TWO: TYPES, SIZE AND NATURE OF WETLAND IN PORTHARCOURT METROPOLIS- - - - - - - - 46

Introduction - - - - - - - - - - 46

2.1 Saltwater Wetland Ecosystem- - - - - - - 50

2.2 Freshwater Wetland Ecosystem- - - - - - - 61

2.3 Land Use Change Process/Distribution- - - - - - 63

CHAPTER THREE: THE LAND USE AND LAND COVER CLASSES IN PORTHARCOURT WETLAND ECOSYSTEM- - - - - - 66

3.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - - 66

3.1 Result of Accuracy Assessment of Land use/Land Cover Map of the Study Area- 66

3.2 Land use Class Inventory- - - - - - - - 70

CHAPTER FOUR: CAUSES OF LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGES IN THE WETLAND ECOSYSTEM OF PORT-HARCOURT METROPOLIS- 73

4.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - - 73

4.1 Nature and Location of Changes in Land Use /Land Cover Class- - - 75

CHAPTER FIVE: FORECASTING THE FUTURE PATTERN OF LAND USE AND LANDCOVER CHANGE IN THE WETLAND ECOSYSTEM OF PORTHARCOURT METROPOLIS- - - - - - 78

5.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - - 78

5.1 Land Use/Land Cover Projection - - - - - - 78

CHAPTER SIX: SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION- - - - - - - - - 82

6.0 Summary of the Findings- - - - - - - - 82

6.1 Recommendations- - - - - - - - - 83

6.2 Conclusion - - - - - - - - - 83

REFERENCES- - - - - - - - - - 85

APPENDIX - - - - - - - - - - 103