Progressive Horticulture
  • Year: 2017
  • Volume: 49
  • Issue: 1

Perceived influence of trees, greens in open spaces on microclimate: A case study of the Federal University of Technology, Akure

Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management, Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, The Federal University of Technology, P.M.B 704, Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria

Online published on 31 March, 2018.

Abstract

Trees and green in open spaces impact people's lives positively by ameliorating the effect of climate change. The study therefore assessed perceived influences of trees and greens in open spaces on microclimate of the Federal University of Technology, Akure. Specifically, the study evaluated the perception of staff and students about the university landscape and its effects on the microclimate and residents on campus. Multistage sampling techniques were used to select 90 respondents including staff and students from which data were collected with the use of well structured interview schedule. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study indicated that majority (59.1%) of the respondents were male, while (47.7%) of the respondents were between the ages of 21–30 years. Respondents asserted that good landscaping contribute to the serenity of the environment (80.2%), 61.7% believe that landscape contributes to environmental quality while (47.6%) asserted that landscape provides comfort to life, in all (48.9%) asserted that the university is beautifully landscaped to ameliorate micro-climate. Therefore, green and trees should be incorporated to the built environment within the campus to enhance environmental quality.

Keywords

Landscape, green space, environmental quality, thermal comfort