Resident staff’ s awareness and perception of services and disservices of trees in University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the resident staff's perception and awareness of tree services and disservices at the University of Ibadan in order to aid all relevant stakeholders in designing management policies and decisions for the optimal and continuous benefit of trees. A stratified random sampling technique was used. Seventy-five (75) senior staff and fifty (50) junior staff respondents were randomly selected. Tree services as well as perceptions of tree management strategies were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square (χ2) at p=0.05. Both senior staff (100%) and junior staff (98%) were aware of the presence of trees on campus, however, staff category is not dependent on awareness of presence of trees. Majority of the respondents (70%) selected more than one tree service. Among the identified services, resident senior staff ranked cooling of the environment (14.64%) as the most important, while resident junior staff ranked trees beautifying the environment (8.84%) as the most important. As a personal benefit derived from trees, cooling the environment was ranked highest (16.88 and 10.51%) by both senior and junior staff. The most common environmental disservice reported by respondents (23.59 and 24.82%, respectively) was littered fruits and leaves and trees falling on roads, causing nuisance and endangering pedestrians and motorists. The trees, according to the respondents (57.59%), are old and poorly maintained by the Campus Tree Management committee (32.28%). Furthermore, 93.70% of respondents agreed that trees are necessary on the University of Ibadan campus. The Campus Tree Management Committee should create an action plan that focuses on tree hazards mitigation and the promotion of sustainable greenery for the University environment.