Environmental Impact Assessment of Gully Erosion in Abor Community, Udi LGA, Enugu State
Abstract
The development and proliferation of gullies have emerged as important issues in contemporary environmental studies for numerous towns and villages in southeastern Nigeria. This research assesses the environmental impact of gully erosion within the Abor community, situated in the Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State. Data pertaining to the gully sites were acquired through preliminary investigations, interviews, questionnaires, and laboratory analyses of geotechnical parameters, conducted in accordance with established standard procedures. The examination of soil samples collected from accessible sections of the gully, exhibiting depths of up to 1.5 meters, revealed a predominant textural characteristic of sandy loam, comprising 18% clay, 9% silt, 44% fine sand, and 29% coarse sand. The measured moisture content was 31.75%, with a bulk density of 1.45 g/cm3, total porosity of 45.28%, and hydraulic conductivity of 14.14 m/day. The Atterberg Limit test indicated a liquid limit of 32.28% and a plastic limit of 22.38%, resulting in a plasticity index of 9.90%. Furthermore, the research identified that the extensive soil loss in the study area, attributable to gully formation, has caused considerable ecological damage, fragmentation of arable land, destruction of pathways, and the loss of agricultural crops and economically valuable trees. This situation has regrettably led to the loss of lives and property, thereby disrupting socioeconomic activities and inflicting significant hardship on the local community. To mitigate soil loss and safeguard arable land from the adverse effects of gully formation, this study proposes the following recommendations: the implementation of engineering solutions, enhancement of afforestation and forest protection initiatives, the formation of community engagement programs, the establishment of a Nigeria Soil Data and Gully Erosion Mitigation Commission, and the conduction of sustainability studies as mechanisms to address the critical issue .
References
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