Assessment of Forest Cover Change in Omo Forest Reserve, Ogun State, Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

Forest cover change has become a critical concern in southwestern Nigeria, where expanding agricultural frontiers and urban development continue to encroach on protected reserves. This study assesses land use and land cover change in Omo Forest Reserve, Ogun State, over a fifteen-year period (2009-2024) using Landsat satellite imagery and geographic information system tools. Supervised classification of multi-temporal imagery was used to delineate forest, farmland, settlement, and degraded land categories. Change detection analysis quantified the rate and spatial pattern of deforestation across the reserve boundaries. Field verification was conducted at thirty randomly selected points to validate classification accuracy. Results reveal a significant decline in closed canopy forest, corresponding to increases in secondary vegetation and encroached farmland. The study identifies settlement expansion along the eastern corridor as the primary driver of forest loss. Seasonal burning practices and charcoal production were identified as compounding threats. The findings underscore the inadequacy of current buffer zone enforcement and call for improved community engagement strategies. This study contributes baseline spatial data for conservation planning and offers recommendations for strengthening the legal and institutional frameworks governing the reserve. Integrated land use planning incorporating local livelihood considerations is proposed as a sustainable management pathway for Omo Forest Reserve and similar lowland rainforest ecosystems in southwestern Nigeria. Keywords: deforestation, land cover change, remote sensing, Omo Forest Reserve, GIS