ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DEFORESTATION IN NIGERA: A CASE STUDY OF OPI, NSUKKA, ENUGU STATE

Deforestation has been globally recognized as a major contributor to environmental challenges such as climate change, with rural communities being particularly vulnerable due to its impact on their social, cultural, and economic systems. This study examined the impact of deforestation in Opi town, Enugu State, Nigeria, using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. The study objectives included examining the nature and trend of deforestation in Opi from 2013-2023, identifying the causes and evaluating the effects of deforestation in the study area. Data were analyzed using mean statistics, to determine the causes and effects of deforestation, while change detection analysis was used to identify land-use changes in the area. The study revealed significant land-use transformation between 2013 and 2023. Built-up areas increased from 19% to 34%, while vegetation declined from 38% to 31%. Similarly, exposed surfaces expanded from 2% to 5%, and light vegetation reduced from 42% to 30%. Using a mean cut-off point of 3.00, the major drivers of deforestation were identified as transportation infrastructure development, housing construction, agricultural expansion, establishment of government facilities, and logging activities by timber industries. The key effects observed include observed included the loss of tree species, increased soil erosion and runoff, temperature rise, and the destruction of cultural heritage such as shrines. The study concluded that deforestation in Opi has led to significant ecological and cultural degradation. It recommended the implementation of enlightenment campaigns to educate the community on the dangers of indiscriminate tree cutting, alongside the enforcement of government-imposed penalties against illegal logging, as sustainable measures to mitigate deforestation and its negative consequences.