Assessment of Mining-Induced Land Degradation in Ile-Ife, Osun State Nigeria

Abstract Mining activities can lead to significant land degradation, posing environmental and socio-economic challenges in affected regions. This study aimed to assess mining-induced land degradation in the Ile-Ife region of Osun State, Nigeria, utilizing a comprehensive set of indicators, including slope, soil characteristics, land use/cover, soil organic carbon content, land surface temperature, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and community perceptions obtained through a questionnaire survey. Remote sensing data and geographic information systems (GIS) techniques were employed to analyze land use/cover, NDVI, slope and land surface temperature variations over time, while the soil grid was analyzed to generate the soil types, quantify soil organic carbon content and other relevant soil properties. The weighted overlay analysis was used to integrate the components using the analytical hierarchical process to produce the land degradation map. The findings reveal that 89.9% of the study area has experienced significant degradation, 2.09% has low-moderate and 8.02% has very high degradation, all of which are related to mining activities, extremely steep slopes, and loose soil particles. The survey revealed widespread concerns about environmental pollution, loss of agricultural productivity, and adverse health effects associated with mining activities. In conclusion, the findings of this study emphasize the urgency of addressing mining-induced land degradation in Ile-Ife, Osun State. The integration of multi-indicator approaches, including remote sensing, GIS, and community perceptions, offers valuable insights for designing sustainable land management strategies and mitigating the adverse effects of mining on the environment and local communities.