Spatial analysis of southeastern forest reserves in Nigeria using open geospatial data

Abstract

ABSTRACT Tropical forest reserve system safeguards essential terrestrial ecosystems services such as atmospheric carbon sinks and biodiversity storehouses. The aim of this study was to quantify the spatial coverage of Southeastern forest reserves in Nigeria toward strengthening Nigeria’s capacity on monitoring, reporting, and verification mechanism of the Reducing Emission from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) Framework. Hence, three (3) open-source geospatial datasets were systematically analyzed. The result indicates that, about five (5) percent of the total landmass in Southeastern Nigeria is currently designated as forest reserves. The forty-seven (47) forests reserves identified in the study area account for a total of 1,335.42 km2 out of the entire 28,987 km2 landmass of the Southeast geopolitical zone. In conclusion, the current value of forestland under conservation within Southeastern Nigeria is 82% short of attaining the Food and Agriculture Organization’s prescribed 25% forest cover threshold by a margin of 5,911 km2. Therefore, for Nigeria to adequately achieve the FAO’s recommended target, every state government in the country should consistently maintain the exact 25% forest cover FAO’s threshold. As a next research line, assessment of aboveground biomass (AGB) within Nigeria’s Southeastern tropical forest reserves with open-source geospatial data, is hereby, recommended.