Victor Sunday and Onyemachi Praise K. C.’s “Environmental Monitoring, Mapping and Protection of Erosion Site in Parts of South Eastern Nigeria: A Case Study of Umuahia in Abia State”
By Victor Sunday and Onyemachi Praise K. C., posted on March 30th, 2009 in Articles, Ecosystems, Essay Contest 2009, Technology
 |
| University of Port Harcourt |
Victor Sunday and Onyemachi Praise K. C.
University of Port Harcourt
Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria
Abstract
It is not an over statement that the modern man attaches much importance to his immediate environment. This is obvious in the way he is concerned with environmental distortions, hazards, disasters etc, some of which he could handle by himself; and needs the services of experts to combat other seemingly difficult environmental imbalances. Such environmental distortions like climate change, earthquakes, flooding and mudslides, erosions, landslides etc jeopardize man’s effort to avert these problems. It is sad to know that erosion in the south east geopolitical zone of Nigeria is a rampant issue and a menace. Erosion sites are not rare in all the states that constitute the zone, especially in Umuahia, the capital city of Abia State. Environmental monitoring, mapping and protection of erosion sites in the zone have created much awareness that this challenge could be controlled, and others saved. This study aims at monitoring, mapping, and protecting these erosion menaces in Umuahia, and other sites in the south east states of Nigeria, could be controlled through monitoring, mapping and protection; using remote sensing, digital satellite mapping and geographic information system (GIS) to control natural disasters like gully erosion in south eastern Nigeria, especially Umuahia.
Introduction
Globally, environmental issues have become major concerns to governments and citizens of various nations, including Nigeria. The environment, which is at the heart of economic, social, cultural and human activities, has been disrupted by man’s neglect and abuse of the environment. Pollution, deforestation, erosion, landslides, global warming etc are the aftermaths of this abuse in the ecosystem. The issue of protection, mapping and monitoring becomes paramount in the face of the increasing population resident in the south east geopolitical zone of the country. They are severely impoverished, particularly the rural dwellers due to environmental degradation and to increasing population impact on the environmental resources. Umuahia is a case study.
The environmental resources, most especially the land and soil resources are greatly threatened by soil and gully erosion. The topographical setting of the area, which is located within the tropics, and has high population density, is among the major factors that may trigger the genetic history of the area. Waugh, (1995) stated that “natural (environmental) balance is being disturbed by mismanagement with increasing frequency and serious consequences”. Recent estimates suggest that about seven per cent (7%) of the world’s topsoil is lost yearly to erosion in all ramifications. In fact, the World Resources Institute claims that Burkina Faso loses 25 tonnes of soil per hectare per year (Kalu 2001. 3). Other reports on this issue reveal that Ethiopia loses 42 tonnes, Nepal 70, Decan Plateau (India) 100, and Loess Plateau of north China 251 tonnes (Waugh 1995). Also, the soil survey of England and Wales claims that 44 per cent of arable soils in the United Kingdom, an area once considered not to be under threat, are now at risk.
In Nigeria, Agulu-Nanka in Anambra State is an area badly affected by water erosion — up to 250 tonnes per hectare have been lost in severe storms. Other comparable erosion sites are Ebem – Ohafia: about 150 tonnes/hectare (under control), and Isukwuato gully erosion comprising six major erosion sites. These sites are Ugwuntu, Ogudasaa, Amokwe. Amaiyi – Ohuu 1 and 2, Ahaba, Umunnekwu Agbo, and Abia State University Uturu Campus (Kalu 2001.3).
 |
|
| Fig. 1 Amuzukwu-Mbom Erosion Site (Over 10m deep) |
Fig. 2 Ajata-Iyienyi Erosion Site (covered by vegetation naturally checking the menace, over 25m deep) |
Umuahia region comprises Umuahia North and South Local Government Areas that make the capital city of Abia State. Seven (7) major gully erosion sites have been identified: Amuzukwu – Mbom, Isieke, Isiadu – Amaeke, Amuzuoro Okwuta, Ajata – Iyieny (Figs.1 – 6), and Umunwanwa; with Amuzukwu – Mbom gully cutting off the road linking Amuzukwu and Mbom communities, respectively; destroying arable land for agricultural purposes. The above mentioned erosion sites are found in the southeastern part of the country, hence the call for environmental monitoring, mapping and protection of erosion sites before they get out of control. It is in this regard that the Federal Government of Nigeria in its renewed interest to find a lasting solution to the ecological disequilibrium in the country necessitated the study objectives of the subject – Environmental Monitoring, Mapping and Protection of Erosion Sites (Erosion Disaster) in Parts of Southeastern Nigeria– Umuahia as a case study.
In this paper, the issues in protecting, mapping and monitoring are addressed to solve the problem of gully erosion in southeastern Nigeria, particularly in Umuahia. These issues will be examined as an approach to environmental protection, mapping and monitoring of gully erosion in the region.
 |
 |
| Fig. 3 Isieke Erosion Site (Over 25m deep) |
Fig. 4 Amuzuoro Erosion Site threatening the road to the community (over 20m deep) |
Impact of Erosion Sites in Umuahia
Soil – gully erosion involves the processes of detachment of soil particles from the parent soil mass, transportation of the detached materials down slope and deposition of the particles (Ellison 1946). As soil – gully erosion is a perfectly natural phenomenon, erosion processes require energy input. In Umuahia, the primary agent generating the energy is rain water; operations such as splash and overland flow. The raindrop striking on the soil surface expends its kinetic energy in detaching soil particles. The erosion sites identified in Umuahia are mainly rural, located in areas whose primary occupation is farming. Unfortunately, these sites involve lands used by these rural dwellers for agricultural purposes (farming), which has been harmed by the devastating effects of gully erosion.
A systematic study of these erosion sites reveals that some roads in these places are being threatened by the disaster. For instance, Amuzukwu – Mbom road, which was motorable before, has completely been cut off so that the two communities cannot interact with each other (Fig. 1). Also Ajata – Iyienyi gully is threatening the Bende road that links Umuahia to Bende Local Government Area (Fig. 2). It is in the light of these that environmental monitoring, mapping and protection of erosion sites are imperative. In this region, the primary occupation of the areas within these sites has been reduced as a result of this devastating effect– the erosion that has claimed acres of land meant for agriculture (farming).
 |
 |
| Fig. 5 Okwuta Erosion Site (over 25m deep) |
Fig. 6 Amaeke-Isiadu Erosion Site (over 20m deep) |
Environmental Monitoring Of Erosion Sites in South East Nigeria (Umuahia)
The federal government through its agency known as the National Space Research and Development Agency, in a workshop on”Comprehensive Mapping and Monitoring of the Impact of Gully Erosion Problems in Southeastern Nigeria”, reiterated its commitment to tackle gully erosion problems in the region with Umuahia not left out. The move includes establishing a strong monitoring team. The use of satellite observation with spatial resolution using (Nigerian Sat 1) and other indices like geographic information system (GIS) techniques provide periodic inspection across the region by the monitoring team and complementary satellite observation and monitoring. With all these measures put in place, environmental monitoring, mapping and protection of erosion (erosion disaster) in part of southeastern Nigeria will bring a deep relief to the occupants of the affected areas, and salvage the situation to prevent further damages and losses of agricultural lands.
Conclusion
Several erosion sites were identified in the region. The population of residents and their activities in the areas already prone to this natural disaster facilitated massive gully erosion actions. The consequences have far reaching impacts on the socio-economic, cultural and political well-being of the population in the region. A lot of damage was observed and expectations are high for the federal government’s preparedness to control the massive gully erosion sites on a large scale through various modalities like remote sensing (satellite observation and geographic information system (GIS) as well as regular field inspection on these sites.
References
Ellison, W. D. (1946). “Soil Detachment and Transportation”, cited in Land Use and Conservation in Nigeria, University of Nigeria Press, Nsukka. Pp. 81.
Obienusi, E. A. and Ahiadu, H. O (2008). “Conservation, Management and Monitoring of Gully Erosion in South Eastern Nigeria”. A paper submitted for presentation at a workshop on “Comprehensive Mapping of the Impact of Gully Erosion In South Eastern Nigeria Using Satellite Remote Sensing and GIS Technique 2008″. Department of Geography and Meteorology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa, Anambra State.
Kalu A. O (2001). “Soil Erosion and Landslide: 21st Century Environmental Issues and Challenges to rural Development in Nigeria”. Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State. MURP, seminar paper unpublished.
Waugh (1995) quoted by Kalu A. O in “Soil Erosion and Landslide: 21st Century Environmental Issues and Challenges to Rural Development in Nigeria.”
26 Responses to “Victor Sunday and Onyemachi Praise K. C.’s “Environmental Monitoring, Mapping and Protection of Erosion Site in Parts of South Eastern Nigeria: A Case Study of Umuahia in Abia State””
Leave a Reply
More Pages
RSS Feed
NASA Image of the Day
Orbital Sunrise
The Expedition 24 crew on the International Space Station photographed this image of polar mesospheric clouds illuminated by an orbital sunrise. Polar mesospheric, or noctilucent ("night shining"), clouds usually are seen at twilight, following the setting of the sun below the horizon and darkening of Earth's surface. Occasionally the station's orbital track becomes nearly parallel to Earth's day/night terminator for a time, allowing the clouds to be visible to the crew at times other than the usual twilight because of the station's altitude. This photograph shows polar mesospheric clouds illuminated by the rising, rather than setting, sun at center right. Low clouds on the horizon appear yellow and orange, while higher clouds and aerosols are illuminated a brilliant white. Polar mesospheric clouds appear as light blue ribbons extending across the top of the image. The station was located over the Greek island of Kos in the Aegean Sea (near the southwestern coastline of Turkey) when the image was taken at approximately midnight local time. The orbital complex was tracking northeastward, nearly parallel to the terminator, making it possible to observe an apparent "sunrise" located almost due north. A similar unusual alignment of the ISS orbit track, terminator position and seasonal position of Earth's orbit around the sun allowed for this striking imagery of over the Southern Hemisphere. Image Credit: NASA
Read More
your site pictures are sharp and descriptive…can this study be applied to other parts of the country?
Ufot,E.Nigeria
The essay is okay, and need further research attention. What about cost implication for technology involved with respect to the current economic meltdown and Nigeria as a developing country? Can you realy cope with further research on this, considering finance or do hope to be funded by earthzine?
Victor and Praise,
Well done. Besides everything else, I particularly admire the fact that you have managed to apply your essay to your home/local situation which, unfortunately alot of youth have failed to do, even in their daily lives. Thank you.
However, you would want to further elaborate on your ways forward and your solutions to this great study since results alone do not counter the problem. What should be done?
Meanwhile, you could also post your comments on my essay too.
Thanks again.
THANKS MR SOLOMON,
GENERALLY THE COST IMPLICATION FOR APPLICATION OF GEOINFORMATICS TECHNOLOGY ESPECIALLY IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY LIKE OURS IS ENORMOUS,SATELITE IMAGERIES ARE NOT EASILY PURCHASED BECAUSE OF THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE.HOWEVER,A SEARCH IS USUALLY MADE TO ACCESS IMAGERIES FROM ORGANISATIONS WILLING TO GIVE FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES.
NIGERIA SAT 1 IS A GOOD SOURCE FOR OUR CASE BUT ACCESS TO DATA IS ALSO COST IMPLIED.
HI BENJAMIN,
THANKS YOUR COMMENT,WE ARE HIGHLY INTERESTED IN CASE STUDY APPLICATIONS ESPECIALLY TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT,SO AS TO FULFIL OUR RESPONSILITY AS ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES AND PROFESSIONAL.WE STILL HAVE LOTS OF APPLICATION AREAS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY THAT REQUIRES PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT USING THE SATELLITE/GEOINFORMATICS TECHNOLOGY.AS THE WORK EXPANDS SYNERGY AMONG ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONALS BECOMES INEVITABLE YIELDING BETTER RESULT.
WE WILL SEND IN OUR COMMENT FOR YOUR WORK,THANKS
Welldone. According to your observations in the study area, the primary agent providing the energy for the erosion process is rain water. it would be nice provided the fund is available to find out if local anthropogenic activities may have contributed and facilitated the primary agent.
Victor and Praise,
I am made to believe that you are using geoinformatic technology for your research. Good luck and keep it up.
This is a fantastic research and worthy of commendation. Please keep this up. Thanks a lot.
i have read and understand some issue in this reasearch i want you to keep it up. you are to much.God bless, and good luck.
your paper is quite specific to the needs of developing country
you can do better than this ?if given the resources?i can understand you are interested in geoinformatics/environmental mgt
please keep it up ,you have the idea
Dear Sunday and Praise,
I thank you very much for your informative essay. Someone like me who is far distant from Nigeria can get a clear picture of what is going down in parts of Southeastern Nigeria in so far as soil erosion is concerned.
Allow me, however, to put some few points across. At first, I do recommend you that in your future writings you try as much as possible to use a gender balanced language. I do believe that not solely man ‘attaches much importance to his immediate environment.’ Women also do so and perhaps to even a significant extent. Thus, their contribution/participation in environmental issues should rightly be mentioned and not simply ignored or presumed.
Secondly, to me, this essay seems to be much more informative than pragmatic. Perhaps, the biggest problem we are faced with today in terms awareness and implementation is that there is too much information on issues, but so little proper communication and little or no pragmatic attempts or even slow action-taking to tackle those issues. With, today’s global as well as local challenges, we are called to think another efficient and effective way, that is to proportionate available information with action-taking.
Thirdly and maybe most importantly, I personally do not get, all along the essay, the idea of protection of erosion sites well. You have wonderfully talked of environmental monitoring and mapping in a sophisticated sense, but I still do not find how you have envisaged the protection part of it. Besides, I do understand that this issue of soil-gully erosion can adversely impact the socio-economic lives of Abia State dwellers. But I do not clearly get its political and cultural implications and/or effects. Can you please elaborate these two implications further?
In the end, I strongly believe that environment monitoring and mapping alone cannot do much and indeed will have little in countering the real problem. That is why protection ways forward are highly needed. Can you hear from you some?
Otherwise, I profoundly appreciate your essay.
David
Thanks alot to all my commentators and respondents,especially,David Tshimba.
I am sure you can agree with me that the HOLY BOOK-Bible most often refers to man as both male and female see the book of Genesis 1:26-27.We do not try to neglect gender sensitivity to environmental problems such as discussed in our essay
It may interest you to know that pragmatic approach to environmental problem solving in our developing country especially in the south eastern Nigeria is dependent on the political will power of the government in power.For instance,Professor G.E.K Ofomata(the first Geomorphologist in Africa)after his extensive research in gully erosion of south eastern Nigeria ,predicted in 2000 that by 2020,AGULU-NANKA, will be no more as a result of gully disaster.This pragmatic based research finding attrated both foreign and local interest for intevention.Both Agulu Nanka,Umuahia and other higly populated settlements of the south eastern nigeria with more than 1200 matured gully sites are still abandoned without reactive or proactive response simply becouse those concerned and are being threaten by this disaster do not have the political will power.
Imperatively, the political perception as well as the socio-cultural pattern of the people wil be affected.Remember that gully erosion disaster can cause gradual or emegerncy evacuation or migration.
We refer to environmental protection as a means of proactive and or reactive response to gully erosion disaster.Such strategies that can enhance sustainability in the region is an ideal protection measures.Planting of forest tree species on the floors of the gullies and the use of tough leathery grasses along the course of the eroding agent will improve the existing scenario. Vetiveria zizanoides and Axonopus compressus are hence recommended as grasses while, Ceiba pentandra, millicia excelsa, Brachystegia eurycoma, Gmelina arborea and Bambussa vulgaris are recommended as trees and shrubs that will grow on the gully floors . Their establishment and survival will not only manage the ravaged areas, but yield valuable soft and hard wood that would be exploited on a desired routine basis to feed the timber and paper and pulp industries.
Constant Enviromental monitoring that will update our basline database of the subregion is vital to sustainable environmental management of the region.Satellite remote sensing technology is best advocated for effective monitoring.Once geospatial data is aquired,transformation is inevitable into map products for decision and response implementaion.These can be achieved through synergistic environmental management involving geoinformatics technology.
THANKS FOR READING OUR PAPER
As a student of Environmental Management as well environmental advocate ,I know you can do much better than this if given time and resources.keep it up
Your essay is quite ideal and expository with respect to environmental issues in south eastern nigeria.If given time i wish you can demostrate the applications of geoinformatics to the study area.keep it up
Your writeup highlights the need for the Nigerian Government to take urgent step in addressing this problem and others in the environmental sector. Keep on researching.
Dear Victor and Praise,
Your response to my queries is well received.
I now only hope that the establishment of the mentioned sustainable preventive measures be prompt to counter the damage before it becomes too late or not incapable to resist the propensity of gully erosion.
David.
Victor and Praise,
The severity of erosion in Eastern Nigeria has unfortunately been underplayed by politicians. The article by Victor and Praise is therefore a welcome attempt to bring the issue to the limelight.The use of GIS as advocated by the authors is also very appropriate. This is because with this potent tool it is possible to monitor accurately the process and the progression of erosion in the various sites and to map the details clearly.The article by Victor and Praise is therefore timely for salvaging the landscape of Eastern Nigeria badly ravaged by soil erosion.
From Dr. J. E. Umeuduji.
not just umuahia but the world at large need such geographical studies,researches and if possible solutions. then knowing that the more civilized world must be doing something to protect their own natural environment,it is a great joy to me to see that someone is trying to do the same for a part of Nigeria. i really wish someone is interested in anambra state gully erosion like this.
well, its a wonderful article giving the method used to gather information, the arrangement of the article, and the case study is really a good one because not much people know about this area in ABIA STATE.Keep up the good work, but elaborate on the resultant of this erosion( that is looking at the actual environmental causes such as industrial activities or just natural hazards) and the best approach to the redemption of the environment from this ugly situation, either by GOVERNMENT or INDIVIDUALS and some thing like present action by the government on the issue. If there is any necessary policy to be put in place to avoid a re-occurrence. once again nice job keep it up!
this essay ought to be followed up, as such issues are very important.
There Victor and Praise, thanks a lot for putting this writeup here. I was doing some study on soil erosion pattern in the south-eastern part of Nigeria, and i really got some useful information here. I really appreciate the time and effort you put into the writing. God bless you.
I believe that mankind has attained that level of focus that will positively affects the environment he habitats, am indeed grateful that such noble men are seriously cracking their brain to eke out a meaningful output that renders help to the researchers of which am privileged to be one of. thanks a lot
YOUR WORK DISCUSSED ABOUT UMUAHIA IS TRUE AND THE GOVT SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT B/4 IT GET OUT OF HAND,THANK U SO MUCH.
Victor and praise. As a student of forestry and environmental management, i am poised to explore my profession, and want to encourage your spirits on this good work. The best approach a “young gully site” should be by paying immediate and proactive attention to the site, using gully-landslide specialised plant species such as the Bambussa vulgaris , Vetiveria zizanoides, Acacia nilotica, among other forest tree species with well rooted moduleous and creeping grasses to hold the soil particles together, reduce water impact on the land. In the aspect of mapping and monitoring the environment, the government should be able to link or partner with international agencies who may have access to the required equipments such as GIS to monitor process of developments and make recommendations and as well arrest there ugly developments that pose serious threat to mankind and the living ecosystem. Dare you are on the track and you know what you are doing.