Assessing the impacts of migration on land degradation in the Savannah region of Nigeria

Abstract

Migration-induced land degradation is a challenging environmental issue in Sub-Saharan Africa. The need for expansion due to urban development has raised the question of effective sustainable measures. Understanding migration and land degradation links is paramount for sustainable urban development and resource use. This is particularly true in Nigeria, where elevated migration levels frequently result in accelerated land degradation due to urban expansion. Given the need to understand the impact of migration on land degradation in the Savannah Region of Nigeria (SRN), this study introduces a novel approach by integrating remote sensing data (NDVI, NDBI) with local community perceptions (mixed-methods approach) to assess the impact of migration on land degradation in four migration destination communities located in two local government areas (LGAs) (Sabon Gari East and Sabon Gari West of Fagge LGA; Zuba and Tungamaje of Gwagwalada LGA). We conducted focus group discussions and a semi-structured survey with 360 household heads to obtain a comprehensive view of perceptions. Our findings revealed that 41.1% and 29.5% of the respondents agreed and strongly agreed that migration significantly contributes to land degradation. We analysed the spatiotemporal patterns of the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalised Difference Built-Up Index (NDBI) acquired from Landsat 8 datasets for 2014 to 2023. While increasing NDBI values were observed in all communities, a slight decrease in NDVI was noted in Sabon Gari East and Tungamaje. Our analyses highlighted activities leading to land degradation such as land pressure due to built-up expansion at Sabon Gari East, Sabon Gari West, and Tungamaje, and deforestation at Zuba. Based on the varying challenges of migration-induced land degradation, we recommend adequate community participation in suggesting targeted interventions and policies to foster various adaptive capacities and sustainable environments within SRN communities and Sub-Saharan Africa.