Assessment of Protected Green Space of Eleyele Dam, Ibadan

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 overharvesting. 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.