Landuse Landcover Dynamics and Sustainability of Wetland Downstream of the Hydroelectric Dams, Niger State, Nigeria

The concentration of human settlement and socio-economic activities across wetland ecosystems has continued to intensify land use land cover (LULC) changes thereby, aggravating its exposure, susceptibility to flood hazard which have continued to threaten rural livelihood. Gurmana, Akare, Ketso and Nupeko in Shiroro, Wushishi, Mokwa and Lavun local government areas (LGAs) respectively were sampled for the research. These locations are the most vulnerable communities downstream of the hydroelectric dams. Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) 2006, Landsat- 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) –2016 optical imageries and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model (DEM) were analysed and imported into geospatial database for integration. Change detection affirmed vegetation degradation across the study area between 2006 and 2016. Vegetation cover and surface water declined while bare ground, built-up areas and agricultural lands increased. Similarly NDVI of 2006 and 2016 shows vegetation degradation in response to increase in built-up and agriculture earlier observed. The DEM map signals high vulnerability risk levels to the downstream communities. The suitability map showed that large proportion of the wetland agriculture is threatened. It is suggested that geospatial information can be incorporated with climatic data for developing proactive strategies that will enhance community capacity to live sustainably with risk through adaptation and management techniques. Keywords: Ecosystem, Economic diversification, Vulnerability, Proactive Strategies and Sustainabilit