ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF DEFORESTATION IN NIGERA: A CASE STUDY OF OPI, NSUKKA, ENUGU STATE

Deforestation has been globally recognized as a major contributor to environmental 
challenges such as climate change, with rural communities being particularly vulnerable due to 
its impact on their social, cultural, and economic systems. This study examined the impact of 
deforestation in Opi town, Enugu State, Nigeria, using a convergent parallel mixed-methods 
design. The study objectives included examining the nature and trend of deforestation in Opi from 
2013-2023, identifying the causes and evaluating the effects of deforestation in the study area. 
Data were analyzed using mean statistics, to determine the causes and effects of deforestation, 
while change detection analysis was used to identify land-use changes in the area. The study 
revealed significant land-use transformation between 2013 and 2023. Built-up areas increased 
from 19% to 34%, while vegetation declined from 38% to 31%. Similarly, exposed surfaces 
expanded from 2% to 5%, and light vegetation reduced from 42% to 30%. Using a mean cut-off 
point of 3.00, the major drivers of deforestation were identified as transportation infrastructure 
development, housing construction, agricultural expansion, establishment of government 
facilities, and logging activities by timber industries. The key effects observed include observed 
included the loss of tree species, increased soil erosion and runoff, temperature rise, and the 
destruction of cultural heritage such as shrines. The study concluded that deforestation in Opi has 
led to significant ecological and cultural degradation. It recommended the implementation of 
enlightenment campaigns to educate the community on the dangers of indiscriminate tree cutting, 
alongside the enforcement of government-imposed penalties against illegal logging, as sustainable 
measures to mitigate deforestation and its negative consequences.