The study examined the effects of Land use change and Landscape fragmentation in Abuja. The Study revealed that main factor influencing Land use change and Landscape fragmentation in Abuja was the lack of opportunities to acquire other Land Uses. This factor was rated highest (Mean= 3.42, standard deviation= 1.10. The next factor that influenced land use fragmentation and land use change was the overgrowing population/slum formation. (Mean=2.98, Standard deviation=1.01. The Study further revealed that rain forest and groundcover Landscape Plants, such as Antiaria Africana, Anthocleista Nobilis, Elaeis Guineansis, Afzelia Africana and Anona Senegalensis; that were conceptualized in the Master Plan to serve as botanical, recreational and as weather conditioners in a micro-climate scale has reduced to an estimated 10% (800 square kilometer) of the total 8000 square kilometer Abuja land mass. Consequently, the research concluded that, the impacts of land use change and the landscape fragmentation includes flooding, food scarcity due to fluctuation in Rainfall, drought, increase in air pollution as well as outbreak of respiratory diseases such as Pulmonary tuberculosis(PTB), and acute lower respiratory tract infections(ALRTI) in Abuja.
Citation: Saliman Dauda (2021) The Effects of Land Use Change and Landscape Fragmentation in Abuja, Nigeria, International Journal of Geography and Regional Planning Research, Vol.6, No.2, pp.13-27
Keywords: : landscape fragmentation, Abuja, land use change
