Space Science Development in Nigeria and Emerging Possibilities for Sustainable Landuse Management

Space Science Development in Nigeria and Emerging Possibilities for Sustainable Landuse Management

Ayobami T. Salami1,  Robert A. Boroffice2 and Joseph Akinyede2
1Institute of Ecology & Environmental Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Email: asalami@oauife.edu.ng OR ayobasalami@yahoo.com (www.spaeloauife.net).
2National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Abuja

Accepted on December 14, 2007

Abstract

Space technology has been a major driving force behind rational and sustainable environmental management in the developed countries. However, access to affordable, real-time, and reliable space-derived data has been a major problem in most developing countries. After the articulation and approval of a space policy, Nigeria launched her first Earth Observation Satellite (EOS) in 2003 and this has offered new possibilities for environmental management in the country. This paper therefore demonstrates the importance of this development for sustainable environmental management in the country. The discussion in particular is focused on the relevance of space-derived historical data (such as land use, forestry, biomass stock etc) as essential variables for either climate change modeling and/or monitoring climatic variations on a continuous basis. 

Download PDF