Analysis of vegetation index of Cross River National Park, Nigeria between 2000 and 2020

*Akinola, O.; Weli, V.E. & Eludoyin, O.S.
*Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
*Corresponding Email Address: belekan@yahoo.com

Abstract

The study analysed the vegetation quality index of Cross River National Park, Nigeria between year 2000 and 2020. The Cross River National Park has two sections which are the Oban and the Okwango sections. The near real time data of MODIS Terra and Aqua Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of 16 Day global resolution was employed for vegetation index data acquisitions for the study. The NDVI imageries between 2000 and 2020 were considered for the two sections (Oban and Okwango) for the study. Descriptive statistics in form of Tables, mean, standard deviation and maps aided the study in data presentation and interpretation of results. Findings revealed that vegetation health recorded mean values of 0.5678 in year 2000; 0.5603 in year 2014; and 0.4703 in year 2020. Thus, the vegetation health/quality of the Cross River National park had reduced between year 2000 and year 2020. This implies that there is reduction in the size of thick forest vegetation in the Cross River National park which has affected the vegetation quality overtime. The study suggested that control measures to safeguard the national park from further degradation should be initiated in order to protect and conserve the park in the face of expanding human activities.

Keywords: Vegetation index, Vegetation health/quality, Deforestation, MODIS, NDVI, ArcGIS 10.5, Cross River National Park