Assessment of Deforestation Impacts on Local Climate Indicators in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria

Forest clearance alters surface energy balance, evapotranspiration, and local precipitation patterns in ways that can affect the microclimate of surrounding landscapes. This study assessed the relationship between deforestation and local climate indicators in three local government areas of Kwara State characterised by different forest cover histories. Long-term forest cover change was reconstructed from multi-temporal Landsat satellite imagery spanning 2000 to 2022. Local climate data including temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall were obtained from Nigerian Meteorological Agency weather stations located in or near forested and deforested areas. Correlation and trend analyses were conducted to identify statistical relationships between forest cover change and climate variables over time. Results showed a significant positive correlation between forest cover loss and increases in maximum daily temperature at all three study sites, with deforested areas recording mean temperature increases of 1.4 to 2.1 degrees Celsius above forested reference areas over the study period. Relative humidity declined significantly in areas with more than 50 percent forest loss. Rainfall trends were more variable but showed tendencies towards reduced wet season totals in heavily deforested catchments. The study recommends incorporating forest cover thresholds as climate risk indicators in Kwara State's environmental planning framework and prioritising reforestation in watersheds showing the most pronounced temperature and humidity changes. Keywords: deforestation, local climate, Kwara State, temperature, remote sensing.