Geospatial assessment of vegetation dynamics and climate impact on sustainable urbanism: A case study of Adi Town, Benue, Nigeria

Akintunde, Elijah Akinyele and Abe, Andrew Igila (2026) Geospatial assessment of vegetation dynamics and climate impact on sustainable urbanism: A case study of Adi Town, Benue, Nigeria. MODERN GEOGRÁFIA, 21 (1). pp. 95-120. ISSN 2062-1655 (In Press)

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Abstract

Vegetation is one of the most important renewable resources of the Earth’s ecosystem. However, vegetation has been in a high state of decline both globally and locally. With the increase in urbanization across the globe, city microclimates are constantly changing, affecting the living environment and necessitating the need for sustainable urbanism. This research investigated the rate of vegetation degradation, assessed the influence of climate and human activities on vegetation loss, and aimed to inform mitigation strategies and promote sustainable urban development. The research applied a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from Landsat imagery using supervised classification, and maximum likelihood classification was employed for the reclassification of different land uses. A bivariate linear regression of NDVI values and rainfall data was conducted to evaluate the relationship between vegetation cover and climatic variables. The NDVI results showed a significant decrease in vegetation over the study period, while built-up areas and agricultural land expanded. The relationship between climate and vegetation was found to be weak, while human activities contributed massively to the degradation of vegetation. Agricultural practices, brick burning, deforestation, urbanization, and fuelwood collection emerged as the major drivers of vegetation loss. The study recommends public awareness campaigns on the importance of vegetation, large-scale afforestation policies, investment in agricultural innovation to reduce land pressure, the expansion of automated meteorological stations, and urgent climate change mitigation measures to promote environmental sustainability and resilient urban development.

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