SPATIO-TEMPORAL

The degradation of vegetated lands due to modernization, agricultural expansion, and climate change has become a growing environmental concern in Edo State, Nigeria. Vegetation plays a critical role in sustaining biodiversity, regulating local climate, reducing soil erosion, and supporting livelihoods through agriculture and forest resources. However, rapid population growth, increasing demand for land, and infrastructural development have intensified pressure on natural vegetation across the state. This study aims to map and monitor the spatio-temporal dynamics of vegetated lands in Edo State using satellite remote sensing data within the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. Multi-temporal satellite imagery of Edo State was acquired and preprocessed using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data as the primary source. Vegetation indices, particularly the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), were computed to classify and map vegetated areas and to evaluate vegetation health and density over time. Time-series analysis and pixel-based classification techniques were applied to assess vegetation patterns and to detect changes in vegetation cover between 2015, 2020, and 2025. The NDVI-derived vegetation classes were categorized into dense vegetation, sparse vegetation, and non-vegetated or built-up surfaces to enable clearer interpretation of vegetation transformation.