GULLY EROSION MENACE IN UYO: CAUSES, EFFECTS AND CONTROL MEASURES

Unwana I. Udoumoh, Isreal Ahuchaogu, Precious O. Ehiomogue, Edikan M. Sam, Unyime Abasi E. Anana

Abstract


The formation and expansion of gullies have become one of the greatest environmental problems facing many towns and villages in south-south and south-eastern Nigeria. From field studies, new gully sites are formed during each rainy season due to torrential rainfall, nature of underlying geology, high soil erodibility, and undulating topography that characterize the region as well as removal of vegetal cover due to urbanization and other anthropogenic factors. The massive soil loss in Uyo caused by gully formation results in severe ecological damages, soil fertility depletion, considerable loss of soil structure, loss of lives, reduction of soil biodiversity, reduction in agricultural productivity, food insecurity, disruption of socio-economic activities  in the study area, leading to untold hardship, pollution/contamination of surface water(receiving water bodies) in the catchment area. This paper reviews the causes, consequences and possible solutions to the ravaging effects of this environmental hazard in the study area. This work will serve as a benchmark study for other erosion-prone regions of South-South and South-Eastern Nigeria if the scientific, engineering, sociological approaches which are discussed herein are adopted.

Keywords


Gully erosion, Causes, Consequences, Erosion control, South-South Nigeria.

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