Consequences of Incompatible Land Uses on the Environment
Chapter One
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
This study aims to examine the effect of incompatible land uses in the Uyo urban landscape (i.e. central businesses district of Uyo capital city of Akwa Ibom State).
OBJECTIVES
To achieve the broad goal, the following objectives are set up:
- To examine and identify the incompatibility of land uses in the Uyo metropolis.
- To assess the existing land use pattern in the Uyo metropolis.
- To assess the effect of incompatibility in the study area
- To determine government efforts to control those problems emanating from incompatible land use.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
In all parts of Nigeria, there is noticeable evidence of land degradation. This varies from place to place regarding the types, duration, severity, and socio-economic impact (Aruleba, 2004; Senjobi, 2007). A survey in 1990 by the United Nations suggested that a quarter of the world’s total cropland is affected by degradation severely enough to restrict its productivity, 15.6% of this compromised agricultural land is strongly degraded land whose original biotic functions including nutrient cycling are largely destroyed. This has resulted in a production loss of about 17% on degraded lands. Accelerated land degradation processes have been attributed not only to rapid human population growth but also to the simultaneous intensification of land use. In the last 50 years alone, 20% of the world’s agricultural land has been irreversibly damaged. If the process of destruction continues at this pace, agriculture could lose 15 to 30% of its productivity (FAO, 1984). From 1945 to 1990, human-induced land degradation in Africa exceeded 494 million hectares, and only 22% of the total land area constituted the producing biomass United Nations environmental program (UNEP) and International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC), 1990 (cited from global assessment of soil degradation (GLASOD), 1998.
According to Dudal (1982) and Lal (1990), the annual estimate of land lost to land degradation was expected to rise from 5 to 7 million hectares in 1981 to 10 million hectares in the year 2000. In an assessment of soil under different covers in Nigeria, it was observed that the average soil loss under bare fallow management was 5.5 kg/m2 with an average rainfall of 177 mm a month. Comparative loss in the same plot in the preceding year was 3.5 kg/m2 corresponding to 55 and 50 tons/ha soil loss respectively (Senjobi, 2007).
Land-use and Land Cover
Many existing information systems are mixing land cover and land use where natural and semi-natural vegetation are described in terms of land cover and agricultural and urban areas in terms of land use. However, these are two different issues, and the distinction between land cover and land use is fundamental though often ignored or forgotten (Di Gregorio & Jansen, 1997). Confusion and ambiguity between these two terms lead to practical problems, particularly when data from the two different dimensions need to be matched, compared, and/or combined.
Land cover corresponds to a physical description of space, the observed bio-physical cover of the earth’s surface (Di Gregorio & Jansen, 1997). It is that which overlays or currently covers the ground. This description enables various biophysical categories to be distinguished. Areas of vegetation (trees, bushes, fields, lawns), bare soil (even if this is a lack of cover), hard surfaces (rocks, buildings), and wet areas and bodies of water (sheets of water and water courses, wetlands). This definition has impacts on the development of classification systems, data collection, and information systems in general. It is said that Land Cover is “observed”. This means that observation can be made from various “sources of observation” at different distances between the source and the earth’s surface: the human eye, aerial photographs, and satellite sensors.
On the other hand, for land use, various approaches are proposed in the literature. Two main ―schools‖ may be distinguished. Land use in terms of functional dimension corresponds to the description of areas in terms of their socio-economic purpose: areas used for residential, industrial, or commercial purposes, for farming or forestry, for recreational or conservation purposes, etc. Links with land cover are possible; it may be possible to infer land use from land cover and conversely. But situations are often complicated and the link is not so evident.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to examine the consequences of incompatible land uses on the environment.
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
- Primary source and
- Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in gathering information relevant to the Problem of incompatible land uses. The six residential zones selected for this study was estimated at 4,200 residents.
CHAPTER FOUR
ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF DATA
A total of three hundred and sixty-five (365) questionnaires were distributed to the respondents and returned by the respondents. This figure was the sample size. A total of two hundred and ninety-four (294) questionnaires were returned in a usage formed. As a result, the researcher used two hundred and ninety-four (294) for this study when more than 50% of the respondents agree to the questions, the answer is taken as valid for the purpose of this study. In analyzing the data, the approach that will be adopted is to find out the percentage and positive and negative answers to the question posed.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to reiterate that the objective of this study was to examine the effect of incompatible land uses in Uyo urban landscape (i.e central businesses district of Uyo capital city of Akwa Ibom State).
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in examining the effect of incompatible land uses in Uyo urban landscape.
Summary
This study was undertaken to examine the effect of incompatible land uses in Uyo urban landscape. The study opened with chapter one where the statement of the problem was clearly defined. The study objectives and research questions were defined and formulated respectively. The study reviewed related and relevant literatures. The chapter two gave the conceptual framework and theoretical studies. The third chapter described the methodology employed by the researcher in collecting both the primary and the secondary data. The research method employed here is the descriptive survey method. The study analyzed and presented the data collected in tables. While the fifth chapter gives the study summary and conclusion.
CONCLUSIONS
Irregular and unsound urban development is the common problem of all urban settlements today. The increasing continuation of this problem is inevitable in this order, where the economy-ecology balance is not taken into consideration and economic concerns always win (Cengiz 2013)
In contemporary physical planning literature, the term land use refers to the use to which a site, plot or building is put, it may be residential, commercial, industrial, public, recreational, agricultural or transportation (Obateru 2005). The study adopted a survey approach. It was carried out with questionnaire administration, land uses, structures and sector survey. Random sampling of 748 household heads within the identified 6 residential zones in Uyo Urban was adopted. The residential areas were demarcated following routes within Uyo urban. Data were collected from related government ministries and departments as well as other secondary sources. The data collected were analyzed using simple descriptive statistical methods. Findings from the study revealed that the incompatible level of rural-urban migration is negative as commercial land uses mostly interfere with residential units and mostly houses adhering to land use standards and owing such as economic and personal drive. Consequently, there is the incompatibility problems witnessed in the city as manifested in environmental pollution, high residential traffic, overcrowding, pressure infrastructural facilities and social amenities. These developments have impacted on health and urban sustainability in the area.
Recommendation
The policy makers should develop policies towards enhancing adherence to level of zoning guidelines, housing conditions and general environmental conditions of the study area. These will help to achieve a healthy, livable, prosperous and sustainable human settlement for the area. There should be of Provision land use plan, enactment of zoning, building to approve building plan, development control by authorities involved and using approved standards for any land use development and public enlightenment campaign on built environment and related issues.
References
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