Tropical rainforests are ecosystem of genetic diversity that offers an important medicinal plants source, it’s also provides high-yield foods, and a myriad of other important products. They are an important environment for migratory animals and maintain as much as fifty percent of the species on globe, as well as several diverse and unique indigenous cultures. They also act an important role in controlling world weather in addition to sustaining normal rainfall, while preventing against floods, deforestations, and erosion. The study’s aim is to analyse the effect of deforestation on livelihood and the adaptation strategies in Niger South Senatorial District, Niger state, Nigeria. Information about the various effects of deforestation and adaptation strategies was collected using a structured questionnaire and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The result shows that wind storms, flooding, late rainfall; low output yields, and wide spreads of pest infestation were ranked as the major effects of deforestation. Different survival strategies are been used by the respondents comprises of fishing, animal rearing, poultry production, hiring labour and use of fertilizer to maximize production. It was acceded by the more than half of the discussants at FGD that artisan work and small- scale businesses are the major other sources of livelihood used by the individuals. In their various submissions, they all attest that wind storms and flooding are the most common problem of deforestation noticeable in the study area.

Commercial charcoal production has over time become an indispensable means of livelihood among rural settlers in Nasarawa State. However, charcoal production involves woodland exploitation which contributes to deforestation. Considering the growing significance of charcoal in rural and urban livelihoods in Nasarawa State, this paper analysed the preference of tree species and reasons among commercial charcoal producers in Nasarawa State in view of identifying endangered species and suggesting measures to ensure sustainability of the business. The study employed descriptive survey using both qualitative and quantitative data drawn from primary and secondary sources. Questionnaire was administered to 450 respondents randomly sampled from commercial charcoal producers drawn from 6 communities and 3 LGAs of Nasarawa State. Interviews and Focus Group Discussions were also conducted and the data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics in Microsoft Excel and SPSS (version 23). A total of 22 tree species were identified as usable for charcoal production in the study area. Investigation into the producers’ preference of tree species showed that eight (8) were mostly preferred out of which Anogeissus leiocarpus (Marke) (57.3%), Erythrina senegalensis (Madri) (52.2%) and Prosopis Africana (Kirya) (49.1%) were among the top three. Marke, Kirya and Madri were the most preferred species in Akwanga, Doma and Karu production areas respectively. High charcoal yield, good combustion quality, high heat content of resulting charcoal, less ash production were the main reasons for their preferences. Most of the preferred tree species have been depleted to the point that they are no longer commonly found for use among commercial charcoal producers in the state. The most endangered species due to commercial charcoal production were Anogeissus leiocarpus (Marke), Erythrina senegalensis (Madri) and Prosopis Africana (Kirya). However, pressure is currently on Teminalia glocosece (Baushe/Uko), Andira inermis (Gwaska), Ficus Spp (Baure), Vitellaria paradoxa (Kede) and Gardinia aqualla (Gaude) due to the difficulties in finding the endangered ones which constituted the most preferred species among producers in Nasarawa State. It was recommended that state energy policies should incorporate a law recognizing charcoal as a key source of energy in the State, thereby encouraging investments in the activity of commercial charcoal producers. Furthermore, conservation plans and practical measures of replacing the extracted trees from woodlands/forests for commercial charcoal production should form the basis for license issuance for charcoal production.

Water wells are usually dug by artisans who lack professional skills. Such wells are used at various homes in Gwagwalada Area Council of Abuja for domestic purpose, on the assumption that underground water is safe. Thus, the suitability of such well water was assessed. The objectives were to assess their properties and compare with regulatory standard for domestic purpose. Thirty (30) water samples were purposely collected from six wards (Dobi, Ibwa, Paikon-Kore, Tungan Maje, Zuba and Ikwa). Five water samples were randomly collected from each ward for laboratory analysis. Laboratory results were statistically analyzed using range, mean, correlation and multiple determination coefficients. Suitability of water properties for domestic purposes was determined by comparing range and mean values with NSDWQ and WHO standard for domestic uses. Result showed that the concentrations of water properties ranges as follows: temperature (26.59-30.73oC), pH (7.17-8.23), electrical conductivity EC (222-354 μs/cm3), TDS (12.14-21.54mg/l), Turbidity (0.29-0.93NTU) hardness (13.58-39.72mg/l), chloride Cl-(4.29-8.93mg/l), Fe (0.54-0.71mg/l) and Cu (0.02-0.06mg/l).Water samples generally had low electrical conductivity (222-354 μs/cm3), and mineral nutrients but elevated concentration of some heavy metals. The twenty- three water quality parameters tested could explain 96% of the overall water quality leaving only 4% unexplained. All the samples fell short of regulatory standard in terms of EC, Fe and Cu while well water from Ikwa fell short of many heavy metals for domestic purpose. It was concluded that well water in Gwagwalada Area Council are not potable. Thus, treatment before direct consumption and precautionary use of well water were recommended for the residents. Keywords: Water quality, Heavy metals, Water pollution, Well

This study assessed morphometric of gullies in Nasarawa State. Soil erosion is among the most endemic environmental problems of modern times. Both primary and secondary sources of data were used for this study. As ample of 36 gully sites were carried out in three Local Government Areas representing the study area for this research work. Information on gullies morphometric, morphology, soil particles size and the coordinate of each identified gullies site were taken from the field. Instruments such as hand auger, global position system. (GPS), photograph, Abeny level, linen tape, ranging poles, pegs and measuring tape and field observation methods were also adopted. The results generated from the field were subjected to statistical and laboratory analysis. The results of the findings revealed that 44.4% of the gullies in the study area are discontinuous gullies, 55.6% were continuous gullies, while gullies in the study are at their 5% and above development. 58.3% of the sampled gullies were at a stable state of development, while 41.7% of the gullies were at an unstable state of development. It was also revealed that 38.9% of the sampled gullies in the study area were long-narrow gullies, while 22.2% were linear

Charcoal is no longer a source of energy to only rural households but also a demanded commodity in urban areas around the world which has resulted in the commercialization of its production, particularly rural dwellers of developing countries such as Nigeria. Given the observed growing significance of charcoal in rural and urban livelihoods in Nasarawa State, this paper examined the relationship between commercial charcoal production and socioeconomic characteristics of the people involved in the activity. The study employed descriptive survey using both qualitative and quantitative data drawn from primary and secondary sources. Questionnaire was administered to 450 respondents randomly sampled from commercial charcoal producers drawn from 6 communities and 3 LGAs of Nasarawa State. Interviews and Focus Group Discussions were also conducted and the data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics in Microsoft Excel and SPSS (version 23). Results showed that commercial charcoal producers in the study area were mostly between 21 and 50 years with dominance of those between 31 and 40 (30.9%) while those above 50 years were least represented (6. 9%).There was slight dominance of women (52.4%) among the producers and the they were mostly primary (44%) and secondary (35.6%) school certificate. Majority (48.2%) had household size of 4 – 6 and more than half (52.9%) were married and earned 20,000 naira and below on monthly basis (46.4%). There is strong relationship between the socioeconomic status of the respondents and commercial charcoal production in the study area. Their socioeconomic status proved to have served significant motivation to their rising involvement in the activity. Also alternative economic activities that guarantees quick monetary rewards and is all age and gender engaging as well as requires no special skill and huge capitals for a start, should be planned for and introduced in the study area by the State Government.

Food production becomes necessary in other to feed the growing population. There is pressure on land for cultivation and climate change has affected the crop yields, production and distributions in Plateau state Nigeria. The two important parameters of climate that are temperature and rainfall have significantly shows positive correlations. Three crops; Millet, Groundnut and Guinea corn (Sorghum), have been studied by comparing their yield using temperature and rainfall the assessment. The rainfall has the highest correlation with 0.987while, the impact of temperature base on the Pearson rank correlation has 0.853. the application of the coefficient determination will provide individual crop yield base on its relationship with independent variable.

The efficiency of solid waste management in Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State was studied through the administration of questionnaires to heads of household using systematic sampling methods. The study covered a wide range of socio-economic and demographic variables from the households, such that income of household heads, household size, educational status of household heads, methods and frequency/efficiency of waste collection; waste bins by households and disposals facilities used as well as the role played by government in waste management in the study area were investigated. The study area was divided into Masaka, Karu and Mararaba communities. The results were largely based on the data generated through the administration of questionnaires. 300 copies of questionnaires were administered to household heads in the three areas selected, where Masaka area had 75; Karu area had 108 while Mararaba area had 117. It was deduced that solid waste generated in all the areas remained for days or weeks without been evacuated and containers used for waste collection are not adequate, majority of household heads in the three areas use either plastic or metal buckets to collect and disposed their waste at the locations designated containers for such are placed and also that the socio-economic characteristics varied in all the three areas. Furthermore, at 5% level of significance, H-calculated (as against Ho, efficient waste management) for the three communities were 0.178<5.99<9.21, and are all higher than 0.05 with the implication that solid waste management is not efficient in all the areas. It is therefore, recommended that Nasarawa State should as a matter of priority release more funds to the body that is responsible for management of wastes through Nasarawa State Berau of waste management, a unit under Nasarawa Urban Development Board to cope with the increasing volumes of wastes in the study area. This will help to reduce the high rate of the likelihood of outbreak of epidemic.

Anthropogenic activity especially coal mining contributes immensely to environmental pollution within coalmine and the host community especially if not well managed. This study is on the assessment of air quality in and around Maiganga coalmine, with the objectives of finding out the ambient concentration levels of criteria air pollutants within the coalmine, the Maiganga community and the four control sites 2km north, south, east and west of the coalmine, as well as compare the findings with the concentration levels of pollutants recommended as acceptable safety limits set by Federal Ministry of Environment, FMEnv. Six sampling locations were selected for detail assessment, with one point in each of the sites mentioned. Measurement of concentrations of criteria air pollutants; sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3), and ozone (O3) were taken in-situ using Personal Toxic Gas Monitor (Tango TXI single gas monitor). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), coarse particulate matter (PM10), were collected using a Portable Counter HT – 9601 (PM2.5 and PM10) personal dust meter high volume gravity sampler. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were also measured using a Portable Hand Held Gas Detector (Porcheck+). The study was done during the dry season and the results revealed that, coarse paticulate matter (PM10) was above the stipulated safety limit of 250µg/m3 set by the FMEnv for the coal mine area and Maiganga community but all other parameters were within the safety limits of the FMEnv. CO, NO2, SO2, and NH3 in coalmine area had concentrations lower than in that in control areas because of other anthropogenic activities like burning, heating, waste disposal, agricultural practices and a host of others taking place in the control area and which are not available in the coalmine area. However, the concentrations of the aforementioned parameters were higher in Maiganga community than in the control areas due to higher rate of anthropogenic activities in the community than in the control areas. The hypothesis were tested using student t – test, and the alternative hypothesis was accepted which showed there was no significant variations in the values of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), coarse particulate matter (PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3), and ozone (O3) obtain from the coalmine, Maiganga community and the Control (N.S.E.W) with safety limits set by FMEnv. It is however, recommended that the Federal Ministry of Environment and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) should ensure strict compliance with safety and environmental standards agreed upon during Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Climate variability is one of the serious environmental challenges that have received a lot of public outcry in most parts of the world due to its consequence on agricultural production and other sectors of the national economy and general wellbeing. This study, therefore, sought to examine the effects of climate variability on crops production in the Bakori Local Government Area of Kastina State, Nigeria. Rainfall, temperature and selected crops (Sorghum) data from the farmers living in Bkori and cultivate Guinea corn every year. The data were analyzed using correlation and regression analysis in SPSS and the trend the function of Microsoft Excel.). The study identified positive crop yield while comparing temperature trend sorghum temperature characteristics, the most important climatic variable that influences the yields of Sorghum in Bakori is temperature and rainfall. This has beeachieved by monitoring 100 farmers at different locations in the study area and the use of farm inputs and monitoring of crop-climate relationships to achieve improved crop yield.

Water quality index and heavy metal contents of underground water sources in Doma Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria was assessed to ascertain the suitability of the water for domestic purpose. Physicochemical parameters; temperature, turbidity, TDS, TSS, pH, EC, total hardness, alkalinity, chloride, nitrate and sulphates in the water samples were determined using standard methods of analysis. The water quality index (WQI) was also evaluated using known standard method. The heavy metal contents were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. The results of the physicochemical analyses shows that in borehole and hand dug well water, the respective mean values were temperature (27.11±0.45 and 27.41±0.55 °C), turbidity (1.51±0.54 and 2.56±1.04 NTU), TDS (230.00±87.75 and 358.67±91.46 mg/dm3), TSS (3.64±1.25 and 4.17±4.17 mg/dm3), pH (5.63±0.69 and 6.60±0.95), EC 277.16 and 296.29±26.52 µS/cm), total hardness (90.00±15.55 and 125.13±16.33 mg/dm3), alkalinity (8.87±.083 and 9.24±1.08 mg/dm3), chloride (20.59±14.62 and 21.22±10.13 mg/dm3, nitrate (0.024±0.04 and 0.01±0.01 mg/dm3) and sulphates (1.05±0.74 and 2.09±0.45 mg/dm3). It was revealed that all the physicochemical parameters for both borehole and hand dug well water had values that were within the standard permissible values recommended by regulatory bodies, NSDWQ and WHO except for the pH of the borehole water which was not within the recommended range and which showed the water to be slightly acidic and which could attributable to the nature of the host rocks. WQI for borehole and hand dug well water were 29.65 and 27.38 respectively with the implication that both water sources presented good water quality for drinking based on the water quality index and water quality status. The results of the heavy metal analyses shows that in borehole and hand dug well water, the respective mean values were Cd (0.003±0.002 and 0.010±0.002 mg/dm3), Cr (0.187±0.075 and 0.19±0.070 mg/dm3), Cu (0.040±0.010 and 0.804±0.805 mg/dm3), Fe (0.500±0.330 and 0.916±0.543 mg/dm3), Pb (0.010±0.010 and 0.015±0.007 mg/dm3) and Zn (0.290±0.120 and 0.072±0.072 mg/dm3). The results shows that Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn for both borehole and hand dug well water had mean values that were within the standard permissible values recommended by NSDWQ and WHO while Cr and Fe had mean values that were higher and which can be attributed to anthropogenic activities close to the water sources. It is recommended the groundwater in these selected communities be monitored regularly and that there is the need for the water to be treated before use because of those parameters that are off the standards to avoid associated health risks.

Risks and hazards are two important issues currently threatening humanity and the environment. Flood has claimed many lives and destroyed properties in Malaysia and Africa and Nigeria. It is global catastrophe. The application of geospatial science is, therefore, very important advantages that it offers solutions to flood. This stud uses of Advanced Space-borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Digital Elevation Model (ASTER-DEM), and the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in visualizing floods disaster risk. The whole catchment area of Terengganu has been delineated. The 25 sub-basins have been identified and the flood risk zones have been modeled. The complete watersheds are characterized by different sub-basins and Hydrologic Respond Units (HRUs) which can be viewed in 3D environment.

The future of climate lies on the hand of individual who is an active member that contributes input in the biosphere. The amount of climate change will largely influence the water flow in the river through the emission of solar radiation, increase in temperature, heat-trapping gases. There is a need to control pollution, flood hazard, check water quality and monitor sediments and water flow in the drainage basin. Soil and Water Assessment Tools SWAT is one of the best methods of the application being used for hydrologic assessment as well as monitoring events that occur in the catchment studies. Mitigation can simply determine how to reduce the human hazard, in controlling the climate change that affects water flow in river Terengganu. The Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) provides the simulated rainfall from 1973 to 2017. The precipitation and other weather parameters were used for the purpose of this study and the resultant effect is the production of predictive flood hazard event within the catchment area of Kuala Terengganu.

The study discusses the socio-economic characteristics of household heads, types of waste generated and methods of disposal by household heads in Lafia.The study area was divided into three high, medium and low densities in terms of development.This was largely based on the data gathered through administration of questionnaire using systematic sampling methods.270 copies of questionnaire were administered to household heads in the three areas selected, where high density area has 98; medium density area has 90 while low density area has 82 respectively.It was deduced that all the major types of municipal solid waste are generated in all the areas, and majority of household heads in the three areas use either plastic or metal buckets to collect and disposed their waste and also that the socio-economic characteristics varied in all the three areas at 5% probability level as 0.842<2.78<4.60.Furthermore, at 5% level of significance where 9.21>5.99,this shows that solid waste is more of a problem in the high density area than in the medium and low density areas.

Flood is one of the malevolent effects on the envir onment which affects man adversely hence needs to b e monitored and managed in order to avoid loss of lives and pro perty. The assessment of flood risk in Akwanga Loca l Government Area of Nasarawa State was carried out u sing rainfall data and the perception of the floodp lain dwellers. This study tests a central hypothesis tha t the flooding in the study area is dependent on th e prevailing climatic element especially rainfall using Pearson product moment correlation coefficient. The rainfal l variability and trend were analyzed using standard anomaly inde x and simple linear regression respectively. Howeve r, the study reveals that the possibility of flooding is tan extent influenced by the pattern of rainfall w hich shows a characteristic increase as the year progresses. Abo ut 250 questionnaires were administered to landowne rs in the selected settlements in the study area using system atic random sampling. The results of analysis showe d, among other things, that the populations with regards to the settlement pattern are the most important cause s of floods as well as heavy, prolonged rainfall which lead to riv er overflow, flooding. Nevertheless, they have litt le knowledge of the frequency of severe floods, and flood alleviati on schemes. Most flood victims do not get compensat ion or relief during flood disaster. Finally, the study concludes that flood control in the region needs the coopera tion of government, community efforts and an enlightenment programmes through environmental education and mass media.