Dynamics of Zinder’s Urban Landscape: Implications for Sustainable Land Use Management and Environmental Conservation

Kadiza Doulay Seydou (), Wole Morenikeji, Abdoulaye Diouf, Kagou Dicko, Elbek Erdanaev, Ralf Loewner and Appollonia Aimiosino Okhimamhe
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Kadiza Doulay Seydou: Climate Change and Human Habitat Programme, West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL CC & HH), Federal University of Technology, Minna 920101, Nigeria
Wole Morenikeji: Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Federal University of Technology, Minna 920101, Nigeria
Abdoulaye Diouf: Department of Soil Sciences and Remote Sensing, Dan Dicko Dankoulodo University of Maradi, Maradi BP 465, Niger
Kagou Dicko: Climate Change and Human Habitat Programme, West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL CC & HH), Federal University of Technology, Minna 920101, Nigeria
Elbek Erdanaev: Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Applied Science, 17033 Neubrandenburg, Germany
Ralf Loewner: Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Applied Science, 17033 Neubrandenburg, Germany
Appollonia Aimiosino Okhimamhe: Climate Change and Human Habitat Programme, West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL CC & HH), Federal University of Technology, Minna 920101, Nigeria

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 23, 1-18

Abstract: Unplanned urban expansion poses significant challenges to environmental sustainability and urban planning. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal dynamics of Zinder’s urban landscape using Landsat satellite imagery from 1988, 2000, 2011, and 2022. The study applied remote sensing (RS), geographic information system (GIS) techniques, and urban growth models. The random forest classifier, a machine learning algorithm, was used to classify three land use/land cover categories: “vegetation”, “built-up”, and “others”. Zinder’s arid environment is characterized by sparse vegetation, which constitutes a limited but vital component of its landscape. Despite the already sparse vegetation in the area, the findings reveal a 3.5% reduction in vegetation cover between 1988 and 2022, alongside an 11.5% increase in “built-up” areas and an 8% decrease in the “others” category. This loss of already minimal vegetation raises significant concerns about environmental degradation and the exacerbation of desertification risks. Interestingly, urban expansion showed no significant correlation with population growth (r = 0.29, p > 0.5), suggesting that other factors, such as economic activities, infrastructure development, and land use policies, drive land conversion. Edge expansion emerged as the dominant growth type, with a significant directional preference (Chi-Square = 2334.41, p < 0.001) toward major roads and areas with higher accessibility to public services. These findings emphasize the need for strategic urban planning and land management policies to address the drivers of unplanned expansion. Prioritizing sustainable infrastructure development, enforcing land use regulations, and conserving natural landscapes are critical to balancing urban growth with environmental preservation, ensuring resilience and sustainability in Zinder.

Keywords: landscape change; urban sprawl; urban expansion models; optical remote sensing; GIS; Zinder (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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