Application of Gis in Natural Resourse Management
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Natural resources play a critical role in the welfare of developing countries (Huizing etal, 2002). For many developing countries, natural resources are the base upon which all life depends. However, many developing countries have experienced and continue to experience severe degradation of their natural resources. Expansion in technology, population and economic activities have led to accelerated and unsustainable exploitation and depletion of natural resources (satapathy etal., 2008). This degradation, especially of forest cover has led to diminishing soil fertility, soil erosion, increase severity of the impact of drought, and the further reduction in the ability to produce food and other biological resources demanded by the human and animal population (ibid )
Nigeria is not an exception with reference to these problems. It is facing serious land and environmental degradation due to increasing anthropogenic pressure on its natural resources (Ministry of Environment 2002). The vast natural resources found in Nigeria have been important to its economy and its people; however, their exploitation has resulted in severe land and environmental degradation in many parts of the country. To address these problems the Nigerian government adopted a national conservation strategy in 1988 through the Federal Environmental protection Agency act of 1988 (FEPAAct) and the Subsequent Environmental Impact Assessment Act of 1992 (EIAAct) Anchored by the ministry of environment. The main aims of the ministry as stipulated in the act are to identify environmental problems and issues, to analyze their causes and to recommend appropriate action for their resolution. Currently, this act forms the policy framework for environmental intervention and management. The Ministry recognizes six priority environmental problems (Ministry environment 1999). These include soil degradation, deforestation, desertification, water pollution, air
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Natural resources play a critical role in the welfare of developing countries (Huizing etal, 2002). For many developing countries, natural resources are the base upon which all life depends. However, many developing countries have experienced and continue to experience severe degradation of their natural resources. Expansion in technology, population and economic activities have led to accelerated and unsustainable exploitation and depletion of natural resources (satapathy etal., 2008). This degradation, especially of forest cover has led to diminishing soil fertility, soil erosion, increase severity of the impact of drought, and the further reduction in the ability to produce food and other biological resources demanded by the human and animal population (ibid )
Nigeria is not an exception with reference to these problems. It is facing serious land and environmental degradation due to increasing anthropogenic pressure on its natural resources (Ministry of Environment 2002). The vast natural resources found in Nigeria have been important to its economy and its people; however, their exploitation has resulted in severe land and environmental degradation in many parts of the country. To address these problems the Nigerian government adopted a national conservation strategy in 1988 through the Federal Environmental protection Agency act of 1988 (FEPAAct) and the Subsequent Environmental Impact Assessment Act of 1992 (EIAAct) Anchored by the ministry of environment. The main aims of the ministry as stipulated in the act are to identify environmental problems and issues, to analyze their causes and to recommend appropriate action for their resolution. Currently, this act forms the policy framework for environmental intervention and management. The Ministry recognizes six priority environmental problems (Ministry environment 1999). These include soil degradation, deforestation, desertification, water pollution, air