Assessment of NEWMAP Effects on Gully Erosion Control and Environmental Development over South East, Nigeria

Abstract

The potential impacts of gully erosion over South Eastern Nigeria are a worrisome scenario. It has resulted in the displacement of millions of habitats, agricultural, and economic losses. The result of the effect of Nigerian Erosion Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) monitoring and evaluation on the effect of gully erosion on economic development in this study has revealed a positive significant influence at P < 0.05 over the study region. Also, it is revealed that NEWMAP programmes have significantly covered some constructions of hydraulic structures for flood routing and soil erosion control in South East, Nigeria. This intervention has significantly reduced the rate of land degradation occasioned by soil erosion, protection of watershed and agricultural land, which has thus been responsible for improved agricultural production. In conclusion, it is imperative to conduct periodic monitoring and evaluation of the activities of NEWMAP to building a strong evidence-based mechanism that enhances assessment of the diverse range of intervention projects on the dwellers of South-East extraction.