EFFECT OF DESERTIFICATION IN BABURA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF JIGAWA STATE, NIGERIA

This study examines the causes, impacts, and institutional efforts aimed at mitigating desertification in Babura. The objectives of the study are threefold: first, to identify the key causes of desertification; second, to assess the environmental and socio-economic impacts of desertification on the local population; and third, to evaluate institutional efforts and interventions made to combat desertification. Findings reveal that the primary causes of desertification in Babura include excessive use of chemical fertilizers, extensive cultivation, deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, climate variability and population growth have exacerbated desertification, leading to severe environmental degradation, reduced agricultural productivity, and increased poverty among the local population. The study also highlights limited awareness of desertification's impacts, which hampers effective local interventions. Institutional efforts, including governmental and non-governmental initiatives, have largely focused on addressing land degradation, but their effectiveness remains limited due to inadequate funding, lack of community engagement, and insufficient coordination. To mitigate desertification, the study recommends integrated approaches, including sustainable land management, reforestation, education, and strengthening institutional frameworks. Addressing desertification in Babura is vital to improving the livelihoods of the affected communities and ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.