Spatio-Temporal Analysis of the Pattern of Land Cover Changes among the Sub-Basins in the White Volta Basin.

Abstract

The White Volta Basin has witnessed a declining trend of vegetative cover due to high anthropogenic activities which have impaired the ability of the river basin to provide essential ecosystem services and livelihood support. This study assessed the effects of land cover changes (LCCs) among the various sub-basins using Landsat images of 1995, 2005, 2015, and 2023. The random forest (RF) algorithm in R software (R project 2021) as used to classify and analyze the land use /cover types. Questionnaires were also employed to elicit views on the causes of LULC in the basin. The studies revealed that light savannah vegetation increased, with the highest rate observed in the Gambaga (117.80%), Kulpawn (47.58%), Middle White (39.81%), Nasia (37.48%), and Sissili (23.17%) sub-basins. Built-up areas also increased with the Middle White basin showing the highest expansion rate of 13.21%, Kulpawn 8.33%, Mole 5.85%, Nabogo 5.49%, power White 4.67%, and Nasia 3.975%. Cropland also increased with 32 Gambaga (9.21%), Nasia (7.46%), Sissili (6.11%), Nabogo, and Mole 5.75% and 5.655% respectively being the predominant sub-basins. The Kulpawn sub-basin was the most severely degraded, while the Gambaga sub-basin was the least degraded based on the LULC analysis.This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. Electronic copy available at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4924819 Preprint not peer reviewed Agricultural activities, built-up, human population growth, mining, and fuelwood extraction were key drivers of the LCC in the sub-basins. The findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the extent of degradation among the various sub-basins and serve as a guiding document for the design of targeted interventions to address the impacts of land degradation,especially in the worst affected basins.