Impact of Soil Erosion (a Study of Babbangida Tarmuwa Lga of Yobe State)
CHAPTER ONE
Aims And Objectives Of Study
The main aim of the study is examine the effects of Soil Erosion on the environment. Other specific objectives of the study include:
- to determine the extent to which Soil Erosion affects the environment.
- to determine the causative factors of Soil Erosion.
- to determine the effect of Soil Erosion on the environment.
- to proffer possible solutions to the problems.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK:
THE CONCEPT OF EROSION
Erosion, as it affects man and its environment, is natural and as old as the earth itself (OMAFRA Staff, 2003). It is seen as the gradual washing away of soil through the agents of denudation which include, wind, water and man (Abegunde, 2003). These denudating agents loose, wear away, dislodge, transport and deposit wear off soil particles and nutrients in another location.
In line with this research work, we will consider the following theories:
The Davison Theory: The Davison theory is the earliest cause and effect oriented theory on soil erosion. It holds that steep sloped are faster eroded than gentle slopes and that streams or runoff velocities are solely dependent on bed slopes, which got their derivation from this axiom.
This law is tantamount to an obvious conclusion by Davis (1990) that the rate of change of landforms as well as other geometric impact magnitudes is functions of local relief. It therefore implies that the progressive changes on the terrain by the effects (impacts) of soil erosion are accepted to be universally associated with a progressive landscape evolution where the geometry of individual landforms and the rate of their erosion changes are both subject to sequential transformation through time.
The Ofomata’s (1987) Soil Erosion Model for humid tropics incorporates both the biophysical and human components in soil erosion cause and impact. The two major purposes that the model addressed are firstly, the clarification of the relative importance of the numerous factors (causes) of soil erosion in southeastern Nigeria. Secondly, the advancing of a guide for uniformity of soil erosion research in all parts of the world in consonance with the second purpose. The Model explains comparative study and assessment of soil erosion in the entire humid tropical regions such that necessary variants in the major components of the Model can be introduced by specific local conditions. The model did not address the human impacts of erosion.
In the 1969 passage of the National Environmental Policy Act in USA gave birth to the Environmental Impact Assessment. It was earlier known as Cost- Benefit-Analysis (CBA). Its effect on human being or the human component of the environment was not at the centre focus. In other words, it has no human dimension.
Interaction Matrix Approach (IMA) has been earlier put forwards by Leopold, Clar, Hansaw and Ralsley (1971) as the first environmental impact assessment approach. It consists of ten (10) general categories of action on the abscissa or horizontal axis. This consist of about eight hundred and eighty-eight (888) environmental factors or characteristics such as soil, flora and land uses. The vertical axis or ordinate has four (4) general categories with many impact characteristics. There are eight thousand eight hundred (8800) cells (that is 100 x 88) on a full matrix. It is denoted by (M/I) where M is the Magnitude of interaction and I is the importance of interaction.
Burton, Kates and White (1978) Model, opines that natural hazards are best viewed as ecological framework. This clearly explains that natural hazards occur from conflicts between what can be referred to as the natural event system and the human use system. The human (environmental environment) is given a central role from this interpretation of natural hazards. In the first place, through location. Secondly, through human perception.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
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Research design is the nature of research to be conducted. It is described as the plan, structure and strategy of investigation conceived to obtain answers to research questions. It will be the researcher’s plan for the study, which includes the methods to be used, what data to be gathered, where, how and from whom. The study adopted descriptive survey design. Descriptive survey research was defined by Kerlinger (1973) as a method that was used to study large and small population by selecting and studying the samples chosen from the population to discover the effect of Soil Erosion.
Sources of data collection
Secondary Sources
These includes location maps, library materials such as journals unpublished B.Sc, M.Sc and P.hd thesis, seminars and conference papers were used particularly during literature review.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
Demographic data of respondents
Age Bracket of Respondents
This study tends to find out age groups that responded more to the study as well as the groups that are more concerned on issues hinging on Soil Erosion in the affected Communities.
However, from the table 4.1, it is observed that 4.6% of the respondents are below the ages of 30, 30.3% are between the ages of 30-39, 36.7% are between the ages of 40-49, 22.2% are between the ages of 50-59 while 6.2% are between the ages of 60 and above as illustrated in figure 4.1
CHAPTER FIVE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
RECOMMENDATIONS
It is pertinent at this point to make some far reaching suggestions and possible recommendations which if well implemented will help not only ameliorate but counter lapses of the past efforts geared toward controlling Soil Erosion in Babbangida Tarmuwa and environs.
SCHEMATIC DESIGN
A detailed and well organised design that comprises of different Soil Erosion rehabilitation and control measures is urgently required. In order to determine the best remedial strategy which includes; earth work engineering (hard) option, vegetative (soft) option or both there is need to carry out careful assessment of each of the gullies before any rehabilitation option is considered. Erosion rehabilitation and control should be site specific because every erosion has a unique problem and therefore should be studied to determine an appropriate remediation that has to be applied. Hence, for the control measures to be effective the causes of degradation process must be known. This will help to plan for the prevention and control of the incidence in Oko. However, for these measures to be achieved it requires a comprehensive study of the environment by ecological and allied experts that will identify the best approach that suits a particular erosion because the typology and nature of each erosion differ from the other.
Equally in carrying out the design the affected communities saw that there are urgent need to include roads and bridges to improve the accessibility of the affected area, construction of health facilities, schools and shops to ameliorate the adverse effect of the incidence on the area.
Earth work Engineering (Hard) option.
Various Soil Erosion control earthwork/engineering approaches were extensively discussed in literature and includes; retention walls, soak away pits, check dams, storm diversion channels, sill and wicker workforce, terraces and minor impoundments works, embankment and drainages. Others includes; erosion filling and reshaping, erosion control banks, concrete or rock flumes, sediment basins, pipe spillways, wave bedding etc. These approaches have been applied in tackling problem of gull erosion in various localities across the country but the success or failure of these measures depend on the design, method of application and construction qualities. Furthermore, there is need for stakeholders to insist on best quality and design of construction which will be constantly maintained in order to stop further expansion of gullies around Oko.
Land conservation mechanism.
Gullies can often be prevented if good land conservation measure is practiced. The population should be educated on the sustainability of their natural resources/ capital in order to minimize stress on the environment. A ban must be instantly placed on all forms of quarrying in the area. Hence, detailed environmental studied should be carried out to determine the sustainable ways of quarrying activities are executed in the area by relevant authorities without constituting any nuisance or hazard to the environment. License should be given to prospective miners on best practices.
Well structured Drainage System.
The call for the control of erosion should not be misconstrued for a call to stop entirely the flow of flood water in the area, once there is rainfall, water must inevitably flow. It is not the flow of water per say that causes gullies but rather the unhandled, unregulated and unguarded flow of flood. Drainage must be constructed at strategic areas of Babbangida Tarmuwa to drain flood to the pits were their effect are harmless to the environment. The haphazard manner by which houses are built in Babbangida Tarmuwa must be stopped as this makes drainage construction difficult and costly. The type, condition, shape, material and profile must be included in the design in the design of drainage system. Debris in drainage channels should be constantly evacuated to allow easy flow of water.
Government/Community Collaboration
There should be collaboration between the government and community in the area of erosion control and rehabilitation. In line with this, coordinated, sustainable and participatory management strategies and policies should be developed and initiated by government that involves the population at risk in order to to improve the Soil Erosion menace in Oko. Diverse community value should be integrated into decision-making process to make remediation achievable and sustainable. In Oko, erosion developments differ in sizes and magnitudes among the three communities of Ihube, Amuro and Ugwaku. Therefore, there is urgent need to arrest all active erosion gullies and sites and enforce management practice aim at preventing further practices that will expose the area to Soil Erosion menace.
Conclusion
Many dusts have been raised due to a well detailed and professional study and approaches used in the course of this research work on Soil Erosion menace in Babbangida Tarmuwa and its environs. This study further serve as a reference point, not only did it proffer and suggest a more professional approach to the control of Soil Erosion in the area but it went further to uncover the unavailability of Babbangida Tarmuwa master plan by past administrations. This singular factor has been a major point which of course has made Babbangida Tarmuwa and its environs vulnerable to the scourge of gull erosion. There is an urgent need on how and means to control erosion in Babbangida Tarmuwa and equally as a matter of urgency, a well detailed and professional master plan should be design and enforced in order to ameliorate the scourge of Soil Erosion in Oko. This should be achieved through combine efforts of both government and the people of Babbangida Tarmuwa in order to achieve this feat. It is obvious that most works in the area are unsuccessful as a result of poor design and quality of construction, inadequate roadside drains and lack of proper and safe termination of drains and culvert at valley bottom, lack of effective measures to protect slope surfaces and lack of maintenance.
Concomitantly, it is well believed that this study has provided a renewed effort towards combating erosion disaster in the area and Nigeria by strengthening government’s resolve to protect the interest of present and generation next. It has been ascertained that gull erosion menace in Babbangida Tarmuwa can be controlled effectively but what is really required urgently is being attentive to the environment. To this end, the most appropriate solution to Soil Erosion control is through enabling land management legislation and strengthened institutional capacity that propagate and promote ways to prevent and expansion of gullies in order to completely stop further degradation in Babbangida Tarmuwa land structure.
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