EFFECTS OF CEMETERY LANDSCAPE ON NEIGHBORHOOD AND VEGETATION COVER IN GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

Purpose: Cemetery Landscapes are frequently referred to as cultural landscapes that represent a fundamental storehouse of the natural and cultural capital of the earth. Cemeteries contribute to these storehouses and therefore deserve increased attention, understanding and preservation. The study assesses the effects of cemetery landscape on the neighborhood and vegetation cover within the cemetery environment with a view to find out the changes that are taking place in the neighboring environment for proper planning in Gombe State. The objectives of the study include evaluation the impacts of cemeteries landscape on neighboring settlements and examining the effect of cemeteries landscape on vegetation.

Design/methodology/approach: Both qualitative and quantitative data were used, 400 respondents were selected for the purpose of this study and were distributed proportionately based on the population of each LGA. The instrument for data collection included GPS, structured interview and questionnaires. All cemeteries in the LGA headquarters were visited.

Findings: The results of the study revealed the impacts of cemeteries to the neighborhood as modifier of micro-climate, store house of rare species of plants and animals; it is a place of deposing dead bodies and a place of memorial ease of corpse conveyance. Others included insecurity, land devaluation and psychological discomfort, change in ground water taste, change of neighborhood structure that generate land use conflicts especially with residential areas, it also leads to loss of initial landscapes, loss of agricultural land.

Research limitations/Implications: The limitations include the use of only cemetery areas neglecting other burial places like domestic and church compound graveyards.

Practical implications: The study recommended the need to provide adequate facilities within cemeteries to facilitate smooth conduct of burial activities. The burial at home reduces the value of properties hence the study recommend burial at the cemeteries.

Originality/value: The study revealed that both Islam and Christianity attached sacred value to cemetery and burial ground which affect economic value of land in the neighboring surroundings.