An Assessment of Benefits and Reasons for Urban Trees Flattening in Nigeria Garden City

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VIII, Issue V, May 2021 | ISSN 2321–2705

An Assessment of Benefits and Reasons for Urban Trees Flattening in Nigeria Garden City

Ayagere Selete Ayebaeni¹, Amakiri-whyte Belema Henry², Neebee Bonny^3
1,2Department of Architecture Ken Saro – Wiwa Polytechnic Bori, Nigeria, Ken Saro -Wiwa Polytechnic Bori, Nigeria
³Department of Urban and Regional Planning Ken Saro – Wiwa Polytechnic Bori, Nigeria

Abstract: Hasty urban improvement and agglomeration with their connected anthropogenic actions have a tendency to be associated with demolition of urban planted trees, hitherto the available trees and greenery zones plays significant role in the environment. The recent study assessed urban trees benefits and demolition causes in Nigeria garden city of Port Harcourt, capital of rivers state with possible replication in other cities in Nigeria. Primary and secondary data sources were used whereas the former sources include designed questionnaire and conversation survey, the later sources comprise of related literature. The data was analysed using accurate percentage, mean, standard deviation and regression. The findings showed that unplanned urban areas (t = 11.240) , hasty urban development (t = 7.786), poor tree planting consciousness (t = 7.738), non-enforcement of urban trees laws (t = 3.432), fetching of fossil fuel and lumbering actions (t =2.991). Also considered are hasty urban development (t = 7.786), poor tree planting consciousness (t = 7.738), non-enforcement of urban trees laws (t = 3.432), fossil fuel and lumbering actions (t =2.991) exist as the major causes or reason behind the illegitimate loss of urban trees. The result lay forward that significant variation exists among the urban land uses that effect loss of urban greenery at {F = 29.483, P<0.001}. The result rated protection from sum ray, air pollution prevention, preventing the city from heat; physical aesthetics, comfort and quality environ etc. are the environmental benefit of the available natural and urban planted trees in Nigeria. They accounted for 85.99 percent of positive benefits experienced in the city. The study recommends among others for the formulation of the appropriate policies in this direction, government through relevant authorities such as urban planning and other environmental protection agency should monitor and enforce relevant regulations on trees planted to protect the urban environment.

Keywords: Assessment, Benefits, Reasons, Trees, Garden and City

INTRODUCTION

The development and maintenance of green plants within and around layout of an urban settlement involves planning, environmental management, monetary and statutory commitment that, in utmost conditions, will keep on improving the superiority of urban areas, including the aesthetics and protections that balanced its ecological system. Investing on tree planting and reservation of forestry in urban communities can show case countless arrangement about the social, economic, physical and environmental importance of various land uses of the cities. Moreover, the protection and undying importance that tress and forest have in urban and suburb centres balance the appreciative reasons behind urban planning globally.

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