A SURVEY AND ANALYSIS OF PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING BOTANICAL GARDENS IN SOME PARTS OF NIGERIA
A SURVEY AND ANALYSIS OF PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING BOTANICAL GARDENS IN SOME PARTS OF NIGERIA
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Date
1983
Authors
DANBEKI, JEREMIAH JINKUTA
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Abstract
Data for the survey were gathared from fifteen
(15) states- of Nigeria, using questionlaresa. The
questioniares were designed to provide information
about preparation, maintenance, and problems of botanical
gardens and why such gardens were lacking in many
parts of Nigeria.
From the data gathered, it has been observed that
botanical gardens tend to be lacking in many parts of
Nigeria. The few botanical gardens that exist tend
to be associated with institutions of higher education,
not necessarily Universities,
In most cases, establishment of botanical gardens
in Nigeria came into being as a result of growing
interest in the study of botany, which called for the
need for collections and maintenance of living plants
to serve as aids for studying botany. Botanical
gardens for recreation,supply of medicines, or for
ornamental, or conservation purposes tend to be lacking
Most of the botanical gardens obtained their
plants within Nigeria, Some gardens, however, contained
plants both from within Nigeria and from overseas
countries. The plants obtained locally were either
from the local environment, other existing botanical
gardens within the country, or both.
Most of the botanical gardens prepared their ground
and added manure before the plants were brought for
planting out. Sources of water supply for the gardens
were mainly taps and wells. In some cases reservoirs
were provided for storing water, to be used during
scarcity.
Attempts were made to isolate some of the problems
which limit the growth of botanical gardens in Nigeria.
Nore of the problems is universal to all the botanical
gardens. Most of the botanical gardens have lack of
trained manpower and shortage of funds as the greatest
problems limiting their growth. Most of the garden
staff are illiterates or semi-illiterates. This
contributes to difficulties in management and may be
partly the reason why seme of the botanical gardens.
seem to be poorly manage. Other problems limiting
the growth of the botanical gardens include shortage
of land, shortage of water, soil factor, and presence
of pests and diseases.
Most of the areas sampled did not have botanical
gardens. The frequent reasons for lack of botanical
gardens were stated to be (i) shortage of funds;
(ii) most of the institutions were still at their
temporary sites, and (iii) lack of knowledge of how to
go about establishing botanical gardens. Other
reasons included lack of public awareness of what
botanical gardens were all about and what could be
achieved through them; shortage of land and water, and
lack of encouragement from appropriate authorities.
Green houses and shade houses, which are additional
facilities, tended to be lacking in most of the Nigerian
botanical gardens. This means plants which grow well
only in controlled environemt (like that of green
house)and partial shade (like that of the shade house)
can net be cultivated in most of the Nigerian botanical
gardens.
Generally, botanical gardens as a research
institution and for public enlightenment are lacking
in Nigeria.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, IN PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF
SCIENCE, EDUCATIONAL BIOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA
1983
Keywords
SURVEY,, ANALYSIS,, PROBLEMS,, ASSOCIATED,, ESTABLISHING,, BOTANICAL,, GARDENS,, PARTS,, NIGERIA.