A Suitable Landscape Design for Areas Affected by Gully Erosion in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction Gully erosion has been recognized as the major cause of land degradation worldwide (Musa, Ahmed, Muhammed and Abdul, 2016) as cited by Igwe, et al., (2018). Gullies are a highly visible form of soil erosion, with steep-sided, incised, drainage lines greater than 30 cm deep. Gully erosion is both a natural and a human-induced process. Natural gully erosion plays a major role in landscape evolution. Gullies, and the streams that they feed into, help carve out valleys and supply alluvial sediment to fill floodplains (Soil conservation guidelines for Queensland, 2015). According to Igwe, et al., (2018), in most instances, the development of gullies is caused by overgrazing, road construction and urbanization, log haulage, improper farming and irrigation practices. Gully erosion is important because it affects soil productivity, restricts land use, degrades cultural sites and potable water supplies, and can threaten infrastructure such as roads, fences, access and buildings. As gullies have adirect connection to streams, they have a major impact on water quality. Eroded soil ends up in waterways, road culverts, dams, reservoirs, creeks, rivers and marine environments (Soil conservation guidelines for Queensland, 2015). Landscape is the art of designing, planning and management of land, arrangement of natural and man-made elements there on, through application of cultural and scientific knowledge with concern for resources conservation so that the resultant environment can serve a useful, healthy and enjoyable purpose(Adekunle, et al., 2016).They further asserted that landscape is one of the most cost effective tools for improving and sustaining the quality of the environment whether in the school environment, the city, the suburbs or the country. Landscaping is an integral part of our culture and plays an essential role in the quality of our environment, economic wellbeing of the people, as well as their physical and psychological health. Igwe, et al., (2018), posits that landscape as an essential part of the environment which includes topography, vegetation and associated plants and soil, water bodies, is one of the most visual needs of people. An effective landscape is enjoyed by everyone, from residential areas to urban parks. The functionality, the beauty and compatibility with the natural environment are the result of the combined efforts of the landscape designer, the landscape architect and the architect to give an aesthetically pleasing environment (Ayeni, 2012). According to Dung-Gwom, (2007), the colonial policy of spatial and social segregation laid the foundations to the problems of urban planning and slums development in Jos. The native areas were allowed to grow without formal