Abstract

Soil erosion increment results in an unsustainable development of the living standard of the people. Sustainable development is the positive socio-economic change that does not undermine the ecological and social systems upon which communities and social systems are dependent. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of gully erosion on the residents of Kurmin Gwari settlement, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The Primary sources of data are direct observation from fieldwork and the use of questionnaire, while the secondary source include topographic map and library materials. Descriptive statistical tools were applied to deal with the techniques of summarizing and describing data collected. Percentages, proportion and mean were applied to get other parameters such as expected frequencies. The result revealed that the adverse social effects of gully erosion in Kurmin Gwari settlement, At Layin Pumpo 65% of respondents are affected by destruction of ancestral homeland by gully erosion. 100% are affected by loss of source of water supply. The study recommended that due to gully erosion and other natural environmental disasters, the need for an integrated environmental planning is paramount. What is required is the creation of forum where thought would be harmonized, and an adequate strategy formulated to co-ordinate and sustains environmental programmes. Because of the need to help with the impacts of gully erosion in the area we recommend strongly the establishment of society for environmental problems.

Key Words: Gully Erosion, Resident, Impacts, Environment, Kurmin-Gwari