Environmental impacts of oil production in the Niger Delta: remote sensing and social survey examination

Abstract

This study examines environmental change in Tsekelewu, Niger Delta Region. Both remote sensing and social survey methods were used to assess the impacts of oil exploration activities around the Tsekelewu community. Landsat data between 1984 and 2011 were used for spatiotemporal change in the environment around the community while mixed method approaches were used to collect social data. The results show that several mangrove forest areas were degraded around Tsekelewu during the 1980s and 1990s while the vegetation appeared regenerated during the 2000s, although, at a very slow rate. The rate of regeneration noted from 1999 to 2011 has not fully compensated for the mangrove loss that occurred during the 1980s and early 1990s. After 15 years of uncontrolled forest destruction, little vegetation regeneration, the area was taken over by brackish water mangrove.

Keywords:

• oil production impacts
• remote sensing
• mixed methods, Niger Delta

Acknowledgement

We are grateful to the Nigerian government for funding this research through Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF). The authors also thank the Department of Geography King’s College, University of London UK for funding part of the field work and the United States Geological Survey for providing access to Landsat data used in this study.