Determining the response of vegetation to urbanization and land use/land cover changes using NDVI and NDBI differencing techniques

Abstract Urban ecosystem is a self-organising system of unusual complexity, made up of different interacting social, economic, institutional and ecological subsystems. The response of vegetation to urbanization and accompanying land use and land cover changes in urban areas depends on the form of urbanization and climatic region. Many scholars believe that vegetation is destroyed or at least stunted by urbanization while others are of the opinion that urbanization enhances urban vegetation. This study assessed the relationship between urban expansion and tree density in Sokoto metropolis over a 32-year period using NDVI and NDBI differencing techniques. Results show that the net vegetation gain was 927.8ha while the built-up area expanded by 2918.1ha. Urbanization and urban expansion may have detrimental effects on urban vegetation but with controlled planning, it will have little or no negative impacts. The results show that management and policy measures can be taken in cities in order to mitigate the negative impacts of urbanization on urban vegetation. These findings are relevant in the planning and management of urban forests.