Bottom of Stairs issue
 

Hello, I am bran new, I need some help before the house get re-checked to see if it passes city law/ordinance here in Brooklyn Park, MN. I have a vent running under the stairs and need to put some dry wall there to block the opening, how can one do so? I have that vent there, it goes to the bottom of the steps which is the front entrance to the home. Can I just remove it? What should I do? The picture was taken at an angle, sorry.

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/6...0510165226.jpg

What is the vent for?
Where does it go?
What do you need to drywall?