Effects of gully erosion in Damagum Town and environs, Fune Local Government Area, Yobe State of Nigeria

Abstract

Gully erosion has become a global topic of discussion because it is one of the most severe environmental problems affecting people in their social environment; it has caused the loss of Farmland, properties and life in many regions of the world. Similarly, the study area is also experiencing the problem of gully erosion. Therefore, this study assessed the effects of gully erosion in Damagum town and environs, examined the control measures, and mapped out areas affected by the menace. The study involved two sources of data, primary and secondary. The research found that Farmland and people residents are the most affected part of the social environment in the study area. Moreover, the study also revealed that people are applying Biological Control Measures and sandbagging to limit the destruction of the gully erosion. The Government uses Stones wall engineering control measures to mitigate the problem. But both control measures failed because the Biological control measures attract harmful insects to the environment while sandbagging demands money. In contrast, engineering control failed due to unqualified engineers and substandard construction materials. However, the mapping outcome shows that the first phase of the area is more affected by erosion than the second and last phases because the first phase has a gentle slope with less vegetation. Therefore the study concludes and recommends the following. First, the Government needs to enlighten people about environmental education to know the dos and don'ts of the environment to encourage people to continue their previous adopted methods to tackle the problem. Secondly, the NGOs have to provide pesticides to the community members so that they will protected from harmful insects resulting from biological control. Finally, government need to hire more qualified engineers to redo more effective Stones wall engineering control measures.