ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF AFFORESTATION INITIATIVES TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE IN JOS METROPOLIS
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Globally, Afforestation initiatives are used as nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change.
However, in Nigeria, these initiatives are few and are not monitored for their effectiveness. This
research focused on assessing the impact of afforestation initiatives to mitigate climate change in
Jos metropolis, Nigeria. The study employed classification of Landsat 7 (ETM) image of 2010
and Landsat 7 (ETM) image of 2020. The Supervised Classification method was carried out
using ArcGIS software 10.8. Land cover classification was employed to better capture the
increase in vegetation and number of trees from the afforestation initiatives from 2010 to 2020,
comparing this trend to secondary data of weather showing the impact of afforestation to climate
in Jos metropolis which showed a significant impact to weather conditions where a total of
5.27mm/day was recorded for the year 2010 and this amount doubled by the year 2020 recording
at 10.55mm/day and humidity levels recording at 58.12(%) for the year 2010 and 63.81(%) for
the year 2020. Various environmental protection organizations have been identified constituting
of Governmental, Non-Governmental and Community-led who have kick-started various
afforestation initiatives in various locations within the metropolis with the sole aim to combat
climate change, protect and restore the natural environment especially in regions which have
been heavily mined and left laying waste. These afforestation initiatives have greatly impacted
the climate positively, with the introduction of more trees helping in absorbing the green-house
gasses emitted in daily basis from human activities in the metropolis, reducing the amount of
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, Although, some of these afforestation initiatives have been
abandoned due to various reasons either withdrawal of funding or change in government
policies, this research provides enlightenment on the advantages and roles trees play in
combating climate change through proper implementation of afforestation initiatives to save our
immediate environment and the planet as a whole.
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