Nigeria is a nation with population of more than 88 million and has about 30% of its population living in urban areas. This proportion of the population in urban settlements has great implication on land-use planning and environmental quality.
This is where it is desirable to examine the level of urban landscape planning in the country as this can give us an insight into the degree of land-use co-ordination and environmental quality in Nigeria.
Landscaping is a very vital way to improve the quality of life of the people and thereby providing them with an enabling environment.
When landscaping is in place you can be guaranteed to an extent a healthy well being of the masses because leafy trees and plants can help improve air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and breathing out oxygen.
The resale value of your home can increase up to 14% or more of the actual value with proper landscaping, which can be the difference between selling and not selling your homes. It makes your property look as put together as a man in a well-tailored suit. But it isn’t just about the flower beds: it’s about the shrubbery, trees and accents as well.
A tree shading an outdoor air conditioner unit can increase its efficiency by as much as ten percent. One hour of weeding burns 300 calories (the same as walking or bicycling at a moderate pace), and manual push mowing of the lawn burns 500 calories per hour (the same rate as playing tennis).
A recent study at the Sloan Kettering Institute in New York found that women recover from breast cancer surgery quicker if they spend time in a garden, according to a report by the American Horticultural Therapy Association.
It is also known that after a stressful day at work – looking at a yard with a view of natural elements, such as trees and flowers, experienced less job pressure, were more satisfied with their jobs and reported fewer ailments and headaches than those who either had no outside view or could only see built elements from their window.
A properly landscaped yard can provide windbreaks, which reduces heating costs considerably and also helps with storm water management, allowing for proper drainage to prevent flooding during heavy rain falls.
You may not realize it, but professional landscaping can assist in the energy-efficiency of your home and also pave way for job opportunities; households with above-average disposable incomes are more likely to spend on landscaping services to improve the attractiveness of their homes.
The value of residential construction, which includes multifamily structures such as apartment buildings, incorporates landscaped outdoor areas; this drives demand for maintenance services provided by this industry. As the value of residential construction rises, including spending on privately owned home improvements, the need for lawn, tree and garden care increases. The value of residential construction is expected to grow in 2019, representing a potential opportunity for the industry.
As a country we can getting involved in community gardening in your neighborhood, streets and highways can give nature a helping hand in improving our air quality and provision of an enabling environment for the masses.
