Climate Change Manifestations and Impacts in the Sokoto Close-Settled Zone, Northwestern Nigeria (Manifestasi Perubahan Iklim dan kesannya ke atas Sokoto Close-Settled Zone, Barat Laut Nigeria)

Abstract

Located within the Semi-Arid zone of Northwestern Nigeria, Sokoto Close-Settled Zone (SCSZ), has over the years been suffering from climate change and its associated socio-economic consequences. These negatively affects both the natural ecosystem and the livelihood of the inhabitant of the area. Using multi-temporal Landsat data and meteorological data such as rainfall and temperature records, as well as geospatial analyses such as Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), image differencing and simple statistical techniques, this research identified and assess differentmanifestations of climate change in the area. Implications of these on the livelihoods of the people in the area were also discussed. The result indicated an increasing trend in both minimum and maximum temperatures as well as a progressive decline in the rainfall pattern of the area over the last 10 years. Also, the area recorded over 40% loss of vegetation cover within the same period. The cumulative effects of the above scenarios, leads to decline in crop and livestock productivity, destruction of farmlands and grazing areas and increasing water scarcity, among others, all of which negatively affect the livelihood of the inhabitant of the area, leading to declining family income, food shortages, and in some extreme cases malnutrition and diseases. Mitigation and adaptation strategies including sustainable land and water management practices, ecosystem-based adaptations, afforestation, agroforestry, alternative sources of livelihood as well as civic and environmental education were also suggested.

Keywords: Climate change; Sokoto close-settled zone; livelihood; meteorology; remote sensing.

 Abstrak

Sokoto Close-Settled Zone (SCSZ) terletak di zon separa gersang Barat Laut Nigeria, mengalami perubahan iklim semenjak bertahun dan pelbagai kesan sosio-ekonomi yang serius. Perubahan iklim memberi kesan negatif kepada ekosistem semulajadi, kehidupan dan mata pencarian penduduk di Sokota. Kajian ini menggunakan data multi-temporal Landsat dan data meteorology seperti rekod hujan dan suhu, serta analisis geospatial iaitu Indeks Vegetasi Perbezaan Normal (NDVI), perbezaan imej dan teknik statistik mudah bagi mengenal pasti dan menilai impak perubahan iklim yang berbeza terhadap kawasan kajian. Selain itu, implikasi manifestasi perubahan iklim terhadap kehidupan dan mata pencarian masyarakat di Sokoto turut dibincangkan. Hasil kajian mendapati kedua-dua suhu minimum dan maksimum menunjukkan trend yang meningkat serta penurunan progresif dalam pola hujan di kawasan kajian dalam tempoh 10 tahun.  Selain itu, kawasan kajian mencatatkan lebih daripada 40 peratus kehilangan litupan tumbuhan dalam tempoh masa  yang sama. Kesan kumulatif daripada senario perubahan suhu yang ketara sejak 10 tahun lalu, menyebabkan kemerosotan produktiviti tanaman dan ternakan, kemusnahan tanah ladang dan kawasan ragut serta peningkatan kekurangan air.  Keadaan ini  menyebabkan wujud kesan negatif terhadap kehidupan dan mata pencarian penduduk di kawasan kajian.  Seperti penurunan pendapatan keluarga, kekurangan makanan, dan dalam masa yang sama wujud  beberapa kes malnutrisi dan penyakit yang melampau. Sehubungan itu beberapa strategi tebatan dan penyesuaian amalan pengurusan tanah dan air secara lestari telah dijalankan.  Di samping itu  penyesuaian berasaskan ekosistem, penanaman semula hutan, hutan ladang, sumber alternatif mata pencarian serta pendidikan sivik dan alam sekitar turut dicadangkan.

Kata kunci: Perubahan iklim; Sokoto close-settled zone; mata pencarian; meteorologi; penderiaan jarak jauh.