Spatio-temporal analysis of forest cover change in selected forest reserves in central Adamawa State, Nigeria

Forest reserves in Central Adamawa State, Nigeria, are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures, including agricultural expansion, illegal logging, fuelwood extraction, and uncontrolled grazing. These activities have led to significant vegetation degradation, reducing biodiversity and impairing the delivery of critical ecosystem services, including food security, income generation, and carbon sequestration. This study assessed forest cover change over 40 years (1984–2024) in three forest reserves, Girei, Gurin, and Zangula, using Landsat TM, ETM+, and OLI satellite imagery. The images were processed to produce the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to quantify vegetation dynamics. Results revealed a substantial increase in deforested and grassland areas (from 4.95% to 28.55% and 19.65% to 30.17%, respectively), alongside a marked decline in low, medium, and high-density forest cover (from 33.16% to 18.69%, 31.55% to 13.91%, and 10.69% to 8.68%, respectively). Statistical analysis confirmed significant changes in vegetation cover types (P = 0.006). These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted conservation strategies and policy interventions to restore and sustainably manage forest ecosystems in the region.