Assessment of Protected Green Space of Eleyele Dam, Ibadan
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
School of Environmental Technology, Federal University of Technology, Minna
Abstract
Relationship has been established between urban green space depletion and urbanization in the developing countries,
just as poverty and destruction of green space have also been found to be correlated. Green space particularly in the
government reserved areas have also suffered depletion from urban dwellers in form of encroachment and over harvesting. These have resulted in the abuse of green areas in cities, thereby denying the city’s people the invaluable
benefits expected from such green areas. This study assessed the protected green space of Eleyele dam of Ibadan, Oyo
state Nigeria, with a view to suggesting sustainable policy guidelines. Two hundred and eleven questionnaires were
administered on all the occupants using the space, to solicit information on their socioeconomic characteristics, status
of tenure and security of the green space occupied among others. While Likert scale was used in analysing the
frequency of harvested products, Pearson Product Moment Correlation was employed in testing the relationship
between length of stay of occupants and size of land occupied. Results showed that firewood and herb products were
more harvested constituting more than two-third (72%) of the entire harvest. It was also revealed that except gardening,
all other activities in the plantation constitute danger to the green space. The result of Pearson Product Moment
Correlation r = 0.61 showed a positive correlation between length of stay of occupants and size of land occupied. By
implication, the protected green space is under a severe threat if the encroachment continues unabated. The study
concluded by recommending that further granting of approval on the land be stalled, non-compatible activities that
could further lead to depletion of the green space should be discouraged and there should be thorough monitoring of
the activities of people within the area
Description
Keywords
Destruction, Encroachment, Green space, Protection, Sustainable development