MODELLING THE SIGNATURE OF HUMAN INFLUENCE ON VEGETATION DYNAMIC IN KAMUKU NATIONAL PARK, NIGERIA

Abstract

The sustainable development goal (SDG 15) recognizes the necessity to investigate important biodiversity because of human disturbance. This research models the signature of human influence on vegetation dynamics in the protected area. The Vegetation Index 16-Day from MODIS was used. A novel method for computing the vegetation deficit index (standardized vegetation deficit index: SVDI) on a 3 to 24 month scale was proposed. In addition, NDVI and VCI were used to assess the vegetation condition. Time series decomposition, Mann-Kendall, coefficient of variance, landscape fragmentation matrix, correlation, and wavelet analysis were used. Key informant interviews were conducted to assess the socioeconomic and driving factors of vegetation changes. The findings revealed that across all five period scales of SVDI, and the wavelet result in the last decade, human activities have had a tremendous footprint on the vegetation dynamics. It was also revealed that because of the insecurity that happened in the area, there was vegetation regeneration (from 2015 to 2021), which was revealed in the result of vegetation indices and their spectrum. The changes in vegetation revealed by this studies were justified by the changes perceived by the communities around the national park. The community's livelihood activities were hampered because of the occurrence of insecurity in and around the national park.