Examining the Spatial Pattern of Poverty and Environmental Vulnerability in Taraba State

The intersection of poverty and environmental vulnerability creates compounding risk conditions for rural households in Taraba State, one of Nigeria's most geographically diverse states spanning the North East and North Central geopolitical zones, where ecosystem degradation amplifies livelihood insecurity for communities already constrained by limited assets and services. This study examines the spatial overlap between poverty incidence and environmental vulnerability indicators across Taraba State's 16 local government areas. Poverty incidence data were derived from the 2022 National Bureau of Statistics Multi-dimensional Poverty Index estimates, while environmental vulnerability indices were constructed from four components: land degradation severity, flood exposure frequency, deforestation rate, and distance to functional water sources. GIS overlay analysis and bivariate choropleth mapping were used to visualise the spatial coincidence of high poverty and high environmental vulnerability. Semi-structured interviews with 200 farm household heads in Gashaka, Bali, and Wukari local government areas explored the pathways through which environmental degradation translates into livelihood stress. Results identify Gashaka, Sardauna, and Bali as the local government areas with the highest compound poverty-vulnerability scores, characterised by simultaneous deforestation for firewood and charcoal, recurrent flooding of riverine farmlands, and limited access to markets and health services. The study finds that environmental degradation is both a driver and a consequence of poverty in Taraba State, creating feedback cycles that are difficult to break without simultaneous social and ecological interventions. Keywords: poverty, environmental vulnerability, Taraba State, North East Nigeria, livelihoods.