Abstract

Un-coordinated urban development, poses many challenges one of which is the encroachment of development into wetland ecosystem. The study examined urban growth dynamics and wetland loss in Yenegoa, Bayelsa state. The research approach was quantitative employing the longitudinal survey design. Both primary and secondary source of data were used.  Time series Landsat Imageries of Bayelsa state were downloaded from the website repository of the United Geological Survey for the years 1996, 2004, 2012 and 2021. The Images were clipped in the ArcGIS environment using the clipping tool under the Data management tools in ArcGIS toolbox. Findings showed that there is wetland loss in all the years investigated attributed to urban growth. A total of 2179, hectares of wetland was lost between 1996 and 2004, from a wetland coverage of 31556 hectares in 1996 to29377 hectares in 2004 withpercentage decrease of -6.91.  There was however 27% gain in built-up areas to the tune of 4037 hectares from an area of 15194 hectares in 1996 to 19231 hectares in 2004 with a percentage increase of 26.56. The situation in 2012 was however not different as there was further wetland loss of 4423 hectares from a wetland coverage of 29377 hectares in 2004 to 24954 hectares in 2012 while built-up gained a land area of 4019 hectares. (32%) within the same period with a percentage increase of 20.90. The 2021 analysis revealed further depletion of wetland in the area with a wetland loss of 2085 hectares from an area of 24954 hectares in 2012, to 22869 hectares in 2021 with a percentage decrease of -8.36, while built-up gained 2814 hectares increasing from 23250 hectares in 2012 to 26064 hectares (32%) in 2021(36%) with a percentage increase of 12.10. Strict implementation of extant laws on wetland conservation is a desideratum for ensuring the protection of wetland resources in Yenegoa Planning Area.

Key Words:   Wetland loss, Urban growth, Built-up, Percentage change, Development, Encroachment