The study examined the effect of Boko Haram activities on Land Use Land Cover change at Yankari Game Reserve, Bauchi State, Nigeria. Vegetation in 2003 was 64.36% but later decreased to 48.35% in 2010 and recently increased to 61.78% in 2016. The decrease in vegetation cover from 64.36% in 2003 to 48.35% in 2010 can be attributed to massive infrastructural development during this era. Similarly, the decrease in 2010 (48.35%) could be attributed to human interference such as fetching of firewood, farming, lumbering, etc. which are the agents of vegetal degradation. It is noteworthy that Boko Haram rampage was at its peak during this period and as such tourists’ patronage (especially foreigners) to the Game Reserve reduced drastically for fear of being bombed, kidnapped, etc. But the increase between 2010 and 2016 can be attributed to regeneration as the fight against Boko Haram is being won by the government. It is also be due to considerable reduction in human activities consequent on patronage by tourist (as there is strict regulatory control of unlawful human activities) and time for vegetation regeneration. It is recommended that the people of the host community of Yankari Game Reserve should be educated through enlightenment campaigns on the consequences of indiscriminate felling of trees. In addition to that, alternative sources of cooking energy should be provided to the local inhabitants. The management of Yankari Game Reserve should adopt Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System techniques which have proven to be effective and efficient in the monitoring of vegetation cover. This would help to control encroachment and illegal logging in the area.
Citation: Ukah Chinomso, Ejaro Sunday P., Makwe Edith and Iwara Anthony (2021) The Effect of Boko Haram Activities on Land Use and Land Cover at Yankari Game Reserve, Bauchi State, Nigeria, British Journal of Environmental Sciences, Vol.9, No.6, pp. 1-18
Keywords: Geographic Information System, Remote Sensing, Vegetation, terrorism and natural regeneration.
