COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS ON ADDED VALUES AND CONSERVATION OF TREES IN THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, NIGERIA

摘要

This study examines community perceptions on added values and conservation of trees in the University of Ibadan, Nigeria with a view to determining the importance of trees on campus. Data for the exercise were obtained from a stratified random sampling of 238 respondents in four categories through a structured questionnaire. The results showed that 63 4 per cent respondents affirmed that the trees on campus produce a multitude of services such as shade, aesthetics, protection of the watershed, etc, while 36,6 per cent ascertained their awareness of goods obtainable from campus trees such as poles, firewood and fruits. Socio-economic values of trees revealed that over 70 per cent respondents affirmed that trees on campus directly and indirectly provide employment and income to the school leavers. On average, a photographer on campus using the green tree canopy as background for snapshots realizes more than N60,000 on monthly basis. The results on conservation revealed that 89 5 pel cent of respondents affirmed that conservation of trees on campus has for a number of years been inadequate due to sporadic funding, lack of personnel and equipment for campus tree management The shade width model revealed a strong positive linear correlation (R~2 = 0.950) between the shade width and total height of Albizia saman,. The shade width increases with increase in total height. The Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan should of necessity be accorded the role to chart development objectives for campus tree management which relate to the declarations of interrelated goals obtainable from different tree species located on the 10.32 hectares of land in University of Ibadan.