Ecological Assessment of Riparian Vegetation Along the Sokoto River Corridor, North West Nigeria

Riparian vegetation along river corridors provides critical ecosystem services including bank stabilisation, water filtration, flood regulation, and wildlife habitat connectivity. This study assessed the ecological condition of riparian vegetation along a selected stretch of the Sokoto River in North West Nigeria, evaluating species composition, structural integrity, and disturbance indicators. Belt transects were established perpendicular to the river bank at regular intervals across two seasons. All woody plants were identified, measured for diameter at breast height, and assigned to canopy height classes. Ground cover vegetation and litter depth were also recorded. Results showed significant variation in riparian vegetation condition, with dense, multi-layered vegetation in undisturbed segments and severely degraded, largely herbaceous communities near farming communities where clearance for cultivation was widespread. Invasive plant species, particularly Lantana camara, were prominent in disturbed riparian zones. Woody species richness was positively correlated with distance from farmland boundaries. The study identifies overbank cultivation, fuelwood harvesting, and livestock watering as the primary disturbance drivers. Recommended management interventions include declaring legally enforced riparian buffer zones of at least 30 metres on each bank, promoting riverbank stabilisation using native species, and integrating riparian corridor management into the Sokoto State water resources development plan. Keywords: riparian vegetation, Sokoto River, disturbance ecology, riparian buffer, North West Nigeria.