Impacts of Mangrove Cover Changes on the Land Surface Temperature in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Nigeria has the third largest mangrove forest in the world, the largest in Africa with approximately 80% of its mangrove vegetation located within the Niger Delta region of the Country. Unfortunately, rapid urbanization has resulted in widespread mangrove loss which could lead to increased surface land temperatures (LST) culminating in the threat to the integrity of this ecosystem.

Aim: The study assessed the impacts of mangrove cover changes on climate change in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria with the aim of articulating sustainable mangrove management practices.

Place and Duration of Study: Mangrove covers from 1987 to 2022 in the study area which includes nine states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, Rivers, and Abia, and encompasses significant mangrove forests.

Methodology: The methodology adopted a remote sensing-based research design utilizing satellite imagery to analyze temporal changes in mangrove cover and evaluated their association with climate variables such as CO2 emissions and LST of the study area. Each satellite image geo-referenced in ArcGIS 10.8 & LULC changes calculated using geometry module of ArcGIS 10.8. LST was derived from the geometrically corrected Landsat 5 and Landsat 8.

Results: The data obtained revealed mangrove reduction from 12,991 km2 in 1987 to 9,089km2 in 2022 resulting in the increased LST from 26.01°C to 28.07°C respectively within the pace of thirty-five (35) years. These results illustrate a clear link between mangrove cover change and variation in the LST, highlighting the critical role mangroves play in regulating climate change.

Conclusion: There are significant losses in mangrove cover have been closely associated with increased LST, thus reflecting the vital role these ecosystems play in carbon sequestration which underscores the importance of preserving these vital ecosystems to mitigate local and global climate impacts.