Land use patterns in the island Apa

Abstract

Land using and utilizing its natural resource is considered as old as man, ever since on earth in different eras, he continued to extract the available resource in a way or another for livelihood; he never ceased to exert efforts in developing and improving the land using to better the living standard. Land survey in rural areas is regarded as a way of obtaining complete picture for the followed patterns of land use in the region and its relationship with the geographical conditions.  The study tackled the most important patterns of land use in Aba Island. The study adopted the historical and descriptive methods. Different statistical methods are used for data collecting and interpreting. Observation, interview, questionnaire and aerial photos are used for data collection. The study showed that change occurred to the patterns of land use in the region of the study from 1993 up to date represented in the big rural growth, that occurred in the recent years as a result of attempts of region planning and building residential units service facilities, that result in plundering of about 1687 acre from the lands of the Aba Island scheme and changed for residential purposes. The study revealed that patterns of land use in the region are various in terms of agriculture and urbanization and the agricultural patterns vary as well. The irrigated agriculture is regard the most important pattern in the region, although, the region has known this kind of agriculture since 1927 when the first mechanic irrigation pump was installed, but did not contribute in the development of the region.