By: Salawu H. A.;
Abstract:
Avenue trees are found growing along the road and on streets,
sometimes occurring
naturally or planted intentionally for their aesthetic values and ecological benefits in urban and peri-urban
areas. These
trees are often subjected to anthropogenic and environmental pressures that
pose stress to their composition and the ecosystem services they provide. This
study assessed
the diversity,
structure, and visual health status of avenue trees located in the Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. Trees with Dbh ≥10cm, growing along four major
roads: Poly Main Road, Olori Hall Road, Bookshop Road, and Liard Road, were
surveyed. The total height, Dbh and crown diameters were measured. Tree health
status was determined through the presence and absence of physical defects on
stems, branches and leaves. A total of 249 trees belonging to 9 families were
enumerated. The most common tree species were Gmelina arborea (Lamiaceae
family) and Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae family). The diameter
distribution curve depicted an even age stand distribution for trees in three
of the four avenues. Visual health assessments revealed that 59.4% of the trees
were healthy, 40.2% were fairly healthy, and 0.4% were critically unhealthy.
These findings highlight the importance of maintaining avenue trees for
ecological and aesthetic benefits, emphasising the need for effective
management strategies.
Keywords: Tree Diversity ; Population Structure,; Avenue Trees; Health Status.;
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