https://doi.org/10.65770/VMEL7704
ABSTRACT
The Niger Delta region stands as one of the most severely degraded ecosystems from activities such as oil spills, gas flaring, artisanal refining, industrial pollution, etc., which has impacted negatively on the region. This study investigates the impacts of artisanal oil refining on vegetation health in Oyigba community, Rivers State. Landsat images of 2004, 2014, and 2024 were utilized to assess the changes in vegetation cover over time. The vegetation analysis was conducted using the Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI) for a period of 20 years from 2004 to 2024. The result shows that as of 2004, vegetation cover in this community exhibited a largely healthy vegetation cover, with 42.26% of the land area classified as dense grassland having an NDVI value of 0.29–0.36, and light grassland covered 38.29% with NDVI values ranging from 0.27–0.28. This shows that more than 80% of the land was covered by vegetation. By 2014, the percentage of dense vegetation reduced to 1.02%, having NDVI value of 0.29 to 0.31, while light grassland coverage also reduced, occupying 31.19% of the land area, with an NDVI value of 0.27 to 0.28, showing widespread vegetation stress. Also, shrub cover expanded notably, covering about 65.72% of the total area of land, revealing a reduction in the quality of vegetation. Bare surface increased slightly to 2.08%. It is worthy to note that dense vegetation increased in 2024 from 1.02% in 2014 to 14.08% in 2024, signaling a recovery stage. The study therefore recommends continuous security monitoring to sustain continued recovery.
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