TEMPORAL PATTERNS OF LAND USE CHANGE IN MAIGANGA: A CASE STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF MINING AND RECLAMATION

Abstract

Land resources, ecological processes, and human development activities make land-use patterns a key indicator of environmental sustainability. The Maiganga coal field in Gombe State, Nigeria, presents a distinctive landscape where active mining has occurred alongside progressive reclamation efforts by Lafarge Africa and Ashaka Cement. This study assessed land-use and land-cover (LULC) changes in the area before mining, during extraction, and following reclamation over twenty years. The classification of multi-temporal Landsat imagery identified five major LULC categories: vegetation, farmland, bare surface, settlement, and water bodies. The results show distinct LULC transitions across the study timeline. Vegetation cover increased substantially after 2010, coinciding with ongoing reclamation and restoration practices. Farmland exhibited variable patterns influenced by shifting agricultural activity and land accessibility. Bare surfaces initially expanded during intensive mining but later decreased as stabilization and re-vegetation progressed. Water bodies increased mainly due to the formation of artificial ponds within excavated pits, reflecting hydrological adjustments in the mined terrain. Settlement areas exhibited irregular patterns of change, reflecting broader land-use dynamics and classification variability. Overall, the findings demonstrate that reclamation activities in Maiganga have contributed to measurable ecological recovery, although evidence of mining disturbance remains visible. The study highlights the importance of continuous monitoring and adaptive management to support long-term environmental sustainability in mining-affected landscapes.