Human population growth as proximate cause of wetland dynamics

Abstract

The study examined the influence of population as proximate cause of wetland dynamics in the lower Ogun river basin of southwestern, Nigeria. Both primary and secondary data were used for the study. The primary data included 100 questionnaires administered and distributed among the fadama users group representing 10% of the estimated population of the group. Satellite images of years 1972, 1984, 2000 and 2015 were analyzed using GIS technique, while corresponding year's census figures were analyzed using descriptive percentage method. The results revealed among others that availability of fertile wetlands for farming accounted for 56% of factors responsible for sudden growth in population, followed by availability of economic trees (16%). The results further revealed that population which was 1033 in 1972 increased by about 121.69% in 1984, 62.777% in 2000 and 33.80% in 2015. The study concluded that population grow was responsible for the instability reported in all the land use classes during the period mostly affected were forested and the non-forested wetlands.