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Abstract
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Article Information:
Multi-Scale, Multi-Temporal Vegetation Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystem Degradation at Gashaka Gumti National Park (Nigeria)
M. Gumnior and V. Sommer
Corresponding Author: M. Gumnior
Submitted: December 10, 2011
Accepted: February 09, 2012
Published: April 15, 2012 |
Abstract:
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The study aimed at assessing vegetation cover and status of Gashaka Gumti, Nigeria's largest
national park. For this, a traditional pixel-based maximum likelihood classification of a Landsat-7 scene,
recorded in December 2000, was carried out. Because simultaneous ground truthing had not been possible, and
because of the dynamic nature of the given habitats, different reference data were used to allocate training areas,
specify ecological conditions and assess classification accuracy. These included initial unsupervised
classifications of multi-temporal images, inter-seasonal field observations and visual interpretations of newly
acquired Quickbird mini scenes. The latter served as spatial and temporal scaling tools and were found to be
particularly valuable to detect anthropogenic interference. The data reveal that, during most of the dry season,
green vegetation is absent in up to one fifth of the park or in about half of the environments of settlement
enclaves. This is largely due to human activities such as cattle grazing and burning. Environmental degradation
is already detectable in the older imagery, and clearly confirmed as a trend in the newer scenes. The results of
this study are suitable to stimulate enhanced and targeted protection measures.
Key words: Landsat, maximum likelihood classification, protected area management, Quickbird, vegetation dynamics, ,
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Cite this Reference:
M. Gumnior and V. Sommer, . Multi-Scale, Multi-Temporal Vegetation Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystem Degradation at Gashaka Gumti National Park (Nigeria). Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences, (04): 397-412.
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ISSN (Online): 2041-0492
ISSN (Print): 2041-0484 |
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