Coastland Degradation and Threat to Livelihood in Ayetoro Community, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study appraised coastland degradation and threat to livelihood in Ayetoro community, Ilaje Local Government Area, Ondo State, with a view to improving the livelihood of inhabitants. The research was conducted using Questionnaire, interview guide and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. The study was a survey design that adopted a mixed method that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches, while 180 copies of questionnaire were administered on selected households in the study area. Systematic Random Sampling Technique was used to select the needed samples for questionnaire administration in the study area. The questionnaire were analyzed using SPSS 8.1, while all geo-processing operations and analyses were carried out in ILWIS 3.1 and ArcGIS 10.2 software. Landsat satellite imageries TM of 1991, ETM+ 2000 and OLI 2019 of Ilaje LGA were used. Each of these was vectorised and polygonised, and then converted to raster to have 10m pixel resolution size to make overlaying possible for the analysis of the coastal erosion. The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) was used for the coastal erosion analysis. Findings revealed that, majority of the respondents depended mainly on fishing activities and other aquatic resources trading, water transportation, boat construction and fishing net production businesses as means of livelihood. Findings ascertained the prominence of coastal degradation in Ayetoro community between 1991 and 2019. It showed that, increase in sea level, sea incursion, unprotected coast, nature of the soil and high-water waves hitting the coast, were the major causes of coastal degradation in the study area. Coastal erosion/degradation had resulted to carrying away of buildings, destruction of coastal biodiversity and washing away of coastal sand, as it had great economic, psychological and social impacts on the livelihood of residents. The study recommends: Engagement in empowerment programmes and provision of grants to Ilaje LGA residents; Adoption of Structural and Engineering measures for Coastal Protection and Management; Adherence to Town Planning Laws/Building Regulations; Waterfront Renewal Strategy (WRS); Declaration of coastal communities of Ilaje as Environmental Area for Community Regeneration Programme; and Relocation.