Vol.:(0123456789) Environment, Development and Sustainability https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-018-0214-z 1 3 GIS and remote sensing‑based analysis of the impacts of land use/land cover change (LULCC) on the environmental sustainability of Ekiti State, southwestern Nigeria Idowu Ezekiel Olorunfemi 1  · Johnson Toyin Fasinmirin 1  · Ayorinde Akinlabi Olufayo 1,3  · Akinola Adesuji Komolafe 2 Received: 7 April 2018 / Accepted: 30 June 2018 © Springer Nature B.V. 2018 Abstract Analysis of land use/land cover change (LULCC) and their impacts on the natural envi- ronment is essential in policy decision for an efective solution to the sustainability of the earth system. This study employed supervised image classifcation (maximum likelihood) algorithm to map changes in land use/land cover for a period of 4.5 decades (1972–2017) in Ekiti State. Vegetation and temperature dynamics were examined for the selected years using normalized diference vegetation index (NDVI) and land surface temperature (LST), respectively. NDVI and LST were statistically compared to understand the poten- tial impacts anthropogenic activities on the environment. Resultant LULC maps indi- cated a decrease in forests and woodlands at a change rate of 51.25 and 0.72% over the last 4.5 decades in Ekiti State, while built-up areas, croplands, rocks/bare soils and water bodies have increased about 267.58, 197.30, 714.11 and 4421.43%, respectively. Agricul- tural lands (now occupying 47.13%) are the major contributor to the net change in forests (decreasing). LST showed a negative correlation with NDVI (r = −0.672). Mean LST are in the order 22.7 °C (1984) < 23.84 °C (1991) < 27.17 °C (2017) < 28.16 °C (2000). As the LULC pattern is changing, its imprint is refected on LST and NDVI. Built-up areas, rocks/bare soils exhibit the highest surface radiant temperature, while vegetated surfaces and water bodies recorded the least. The study demonstrated that changes in land covers through urban development have afected the natural functioning of ecosystems. As such, proper natural resource management and efective policies are required to ensure sustain- able development. Keywords Land use · Land cover · Land surface temperature · Normalized diference vegetation index · Sustainable environment * Idowu Ezekiel Olorunfemi olorunfemiidowu@gmail.com 1 Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria 2 Department of Remote Sensing and Geoscience Information System, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria 3 Department of Water Resources Management and Agro-meteorology, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria