This study investigates land use and land cover (LULC) changes in Taraba State, Nigeria, from 1991 to 2021 using Landsat satellite imagery, including Thematic Mapper (TM), Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+), and Operational Land Imager/Thermal Infrared Sensor (OLI/TIRS) data. The images were processed using image-to-image registration, false color composites, and supervised classification techniques with a Maximum Likelihood Classifier in ArcGIS 10.3. Results indicate significant LULC changes, such as an increase in bare surface areas from 1,159,506.59 hectares (20.22%) in 1991 to 1,552,887.27 hectares (27.08%) in 2021, primarily driven by deforestation and land degradation. Forest cover decreased substantially from 2,257,756.76 hectares (39.38%) in 1991 to 1,556,457.57 hectares (27.15%) in 2021 due to logging and agricultural expansion. Farmland initially expanded to 2,451,757.41 hectares (42.76%) in 2011 but decreased to 2,141,973.27 hectares (37.36%) in 2021. The built-up areas, indicating urban growth, increased from 10,477.76 hectares (0.18%) in 1991 to 18,467.10 hectares (0.32%) in 2021. The findings revealed that LULC in Taraba State have led to environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, climate change impacts, water resource challenges, and urban expansion pressures. Deforestation and poor land management contribute to soil erosion and desertification, while farmland shifts affect food security. Human activities and climate variations alter water bodies, and increased infrastructure development strains natural resources which increase disaster risks, and threaten rural livelihoods. It was recommended that there is the need for sustainable land management and conservation efforts such as focus on agroforestry and reforestation, terracing to prevent erosion, and protecting watersheds through sustainable practices to improve soil fertility, boost agricultural productivity, and safeguard water resources.