Obenade Moses and Agwu Jacob Parkins
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of environmental factors on land use change in Cross River Basin catchment area of Nigeria using geospatial techniques. The findings provide useful insights into land use planning, management regimes, and agricultural practices in the Cross River Basin as a critical component of the Nigerian ecosystem. The elevation distribution suggests characteristic basin morphology with water flowing from elevated peripheries toward central lowlands, which influences drainage patterns, microclimate variations, and land use suitability. Majority of the study area exhibits gentle slopes suitable for various land uses including agriculture and low-density development. Flow accumulation in the vast majority of the terrain exhibits minimal accumulation in the basin area. Total wetness values range from 2.04 to 27.83, with the majority of the terrain exhibiting values between 2.04 and 8.5, indicating low to moderate moisture retention capacity across most of the basin. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index presents values indicating continued vegetation dynamics over the decade, while Bare Soil Index reveals concerning trends, particularly in the northern and eastern sections where its values increased substantially from predominantly negative values in 2015 to widespread positive values by 2020-2025, suggesting sustained vegetation loss, soil disturbance, or land use conversion amongst other findings thus availing stakeholders with relevant data for key policy decisions.