Central Asian Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Innovation 1 (2020) 12–20 Forest resources management using geospatial tools: a case study of Northern Nigeria Adamu Usman Kibon 1 , A.H. Abdullahi 1 , Jacinta Opara 2, 1 Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria 2 School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda Highlights Graphical Abstract Article Info Abstract * Corresponding author: jaopara@yahoo.com (JA Opara) RESEARCH PAPER • Vegetation cover play crucial role in the provision of food, shelter, wildlife habitat, fuel, daily supplies of medicinal ingredients and paper. • Vegetation resources especially forests are dynamic in nature, and mostly affected by many coexisting processes such as deforestation, urbanization and wild fire. • The role of geospatial techniques in forestry and vegetation resource management is highly indispensable for sustainable development. The The present study investigates the reliability of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) in monitor and management of vegetation resources for sustainable development. Vegetation change is a major environmental problem experienced in different land use types particularly in lands under uncoordinated practices. Landsat MSS satellite images, Landsat Operational land imager and field survey were used in this study. Results revealed that woodland (6.5%) and crop/bare land (8.1%) experience a steady decreasing trend. Moreover, annual rate of change for crop/bare land is alarming culminating to about plus 50% during the study, while that of woodland and grassland has been minus 15.59% and 3.9%, respectively. This clearly suggests that vegetation resource in the study area is rapidly decreasing and therefore needs urgent attention. Hence, due to crucial importance of vegetation cover in the provision of food, shelter, wildlife habitat, fuel, daily supplies of medicinal ingredients and paper, forest resources management using geospatial tools is highly indispensable for sustainable development. Remote Sensing, GIS, Forest management, Vegetation change, Northern Nigeria © 2020 Published by CAS-Press. Receive Date: 10 June 2019 Revise Date: 25 August 2019 Accept Date: 15 September 2019 Available online: 11 January 2020 Keywords: Remote Sensing GIS Forest management Vegetation change Northern Nigeria * 10.22034/CAJESTI.2020.01.02