The University of Ibadan management’s decision on Thursday to cut down rows of lined up trees in Heritage Park, one of its popular recreational spots, has raised eyebrows about potential environmental degradation effects.

The UI Heritage Park was one of the major green spaces in the university due to its lineup of canopy trees which served as a shed for various students, staff and other residents on campus.

Heritage Park, UI. Source: X/@GaniVibes

Many reactions have poured out following this action by the University management. Most of the reactions bordered on environmental and deforestation concerns.

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“Oh well.. Heritage Park is gone So many creatures have lost their homes. They have created an imbalance in the ecosystem. The natural beauty of the University of Ibadan is fading away gradually,” @mfonobongawah lamented on X.

“The way UI has failed terribly at some…attractions it has disgusts me. The most prominent is Awba Dam for me. I still remember going on a picnic with my first in 2016 and the ambience was cool. We even got right on the bank of the dam. UI Zoo too. Now, Heritage park,” @martinsisaac10 also posted on Thursday.

Bolaji Aweda, the president of the UI students’ union, told EQ that the school management said that the reason for the tree felling was to make way for infrastructural development.

Aweda claimed that the school had planted trees to make up for the loss.

“To compensate for the felled trees, the school has planted thousands of trees in other places, which we are aware of. They have done this through the faculty of renewable natural resources,” Aweda said.

“There would also be another park like a replacement that would be situated elsewhere in the school.”

EQ found the laws guiding tree felling and environmental preservation in Section 7 of the National Environmental (Desertification Control and Drought Mitigation) Regulations.

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Subsection 2 of the law states: Any person or group of persons that fell trees in the course of carrying out permitted activity in desertification prone areas, as listed in schedules I and II to these regulations shall bear the responsibility and duty of replanting fourfold the number of trees felled and ensuring survival of the planted trees.

EQ called Adejoke Akinpelu, UI’s Public Relations Officer, on Friday but she said she was in a meeting. She also has not responded to EQ’s text message at press time.

EQ also called Kayode Adebowale, the University’s Vice Chancellor, but someone else answered the call and said that the VC would call back on Friday.

Adebowale was yet to call back at press time.
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