Remote Sensing-Based Assessment of Forest Cover Loss in Cross River State

Cross River State hosts one of the largest remaining tropical rainforest reserves in Nigeria, yet deforestation driven by agricultural encroachment and illegal logging continues to threaten biodiversity. This study uses medium-resolution Sentinel-2 satellite imagery to assess forest cover changes in the Oban Division of Cross River National Park between 2018 and 2023. Image classification using the Random Forest algorithm produces land cover maps that distinguish dense forest, degraded forest, agricultural land, and bare surfaces. Post-classification change detection reveals significant forest loss concentrated at park boundaries adjacent to farming communities. The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index is computed to assess vegetation health across the study area. Results indicate a net loss of approximately 12 percent of forest cover within the five-year study period, with degraded forest areas expanding rapidly into primary forest. The study identifies key hotspots of deforestation and evaluates the effectiveness of existing buffer zone demarcations. Findings underscore the need for strengthened community-based conservation programmes and remote sensing-aided monitoring systems. The research contributes baseline data for the Nigerian Conservation Foundation and Cross River State Forestry Commission to support park management decisions. Keywords: deforestation, Sentinel-2, forest cover, Cross River, vegetation index