ANTHROPOGENIC DISTURBANCE, VEGETATION DYNAMICS AND ECOSYSTEM INTEGRITY IN KAINJI LAKE NATIONAL PARK, NIGERIA: INTEGRATING REMOTE SENSING, FIELD INVENTORY AND COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES

Protected areas are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic disturbances that undermine ecosystem integrity, biodiversity conservation, and climate regulation. This study assessed anthropogenic disturbances, vegetation dynamics, and ecosystem integrity in the Borgu and Zugurma sectors of KLNP, Nigeria, using an integrated approach combining multi-temporal remote sensing, field-based vegetation inventory, community-based focus group discussions, and spatial analysis. Landsat satellite images for 1990, 2014, and 2024 were processed to evaluate land use/land cover (LULC) transitions and vegetation condition using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), while field inventory data were used to estimate above-ground biomass and carbon stock. Anthropogenic activities were assessed through structured questionnaires and validated using Focus Group Discussions with surrounding communities. The results revealed substantial declines in vegetation condition, with mean NDVI decreasing from 0.61 to 0.56 in Borgu and from 0.62 to 0.45 in Zugurma between 1990 and 2024. Above-ground biomass declined by 15.7% in Borgu and 19.4% in Zugurma, accompanied by a 52.6% reduction in natural forest cover between 2003 and 2023. Grazing, illegal logging, deforestation, charcoal production, and resource exploitation emerged as the principal drivers of ecosystem degradation. Community perceptions obtained through FGDs corroborated the field observations, highlighting increasing pressure on protected ecosystems due to livelihood dependence and weak enforcement of conservation regulations. The study demonstrates that integrating remote sensing with field measurements and participatory approaches provides a robust framework for monitoring ecosystem integrity and informing conservation planning. Strengthened protection measures, community-based forest management, and sustainable livelihood programmes are recommended to enhance ecosystem resilience and safeguard biodiversity in Kainji Lake National Park.