Awareness of Undergraduate Students towards the Health Supporting Services of Trees on the Ecosystem

Abstract

The study was carried out to assess the awareness of undergraduate students towards the health supporting services of trees on the ecosystem. Three (3) research questions were raised to guide the study. The method adopted by the researchers was the descriptive survey research design. A review of related literature was carried out. A total of one hundred and eighty nine (189) undergraduate students in University of Benin constituted the population study sample. The instrument used for gathering data from the selected sample was a questionnaire. The reliability of the instrument was established at 0.79 using Cronbach statistics. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics in form of percentages and mean. The study revealed that, the students are aware that nutrient cycling a supporting service of tree on the ecosystem, soil formation a supporting service of tree on the ecosystem, provision of habitat a supporting service of tree on the ecosystem, the respondents’ benefits of the supporting services of trees on the ecosystem. The maintenance and increase of bio-diversity sustain the forest, maintaining a system of institutions, policies, regulations that supports the forest can improve the forest, supporting services of trees by increasing environmental literacy, maintenance of diverse can forest improve supporting services of trees and supporting services can be improved by incorporating the value of ecosystem into decisions to be made are strategies for improving ecosystem services. It was recommended that; trees should be regularly planted to save the mankind and the animal world.

Keywords: Trees, health, environment, awareness