Integrating Earth Observation Data for Assessing the Impact of Mining Ponds on Land Use and Land Cover Change

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between mining ponds and land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics, emphasizing both the environmental challenges and the socio-economic opportunities they present. Earth observation data from Landsat and questionnaire administration were used to evaluate the spatial and socio-environmental impacts of mining activities in Jos South Local Government Area (LGA). Supervised Maximum Likelihood Classification was applied to multitemporal satellite imagery to determine LULC changes, while nearest neighborhood analysis assessed the spatial distribution of mining ponds. A stratified random sampling method was used to collect responses from five districts Du, Zawan, Kuru, Vwang, and Gyel. Results revealed that mining ponds accounted for approximately 2.03% (10.20 km²) of the total land area in 1990, showing a slight decline to 2.00% (10.04 km²) by 2021. Despite their negative impacts, such as land degradation, erosion, and pollution, mining ponds also contribute positively to local livelihoods. An all-year-round supply of water by these ponds makes activities such as irrigation farming, fish farming, block making, recreation and livestock husbandry possible at all times. These benefits generate a wide range of opportunities, which attract investments from private companies, all channeled towards the socio-economic development of Jos-south. We recommended prioritizing the adoption of modern technologies such as GIS and remote sensing by the government for consistent supervision of the expansion of these mining ponds, towards sustainable environmental development of the Jos-South local government area.