Assessment of ecosystem services of Ikogosi warm spring, Ikogosi and Olumirin waterfall, Erin- Ijesa, Southwest, Nigeria.
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Date
2023
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Department of Ecology and Enivronmental studies, Faculty of science,Obafemi Awolowo University.
Abstract
This study profiled the ecosystem services offered by Ikogosi Warm Spring and Olumirin Waterfall, valued the ecosystem services and benefits offered by Ikogosi Warm Spring and Olumirin Waterfall and compared ecosystem services offered between and within the study areas. The study also developed support tools for the management and sustenance of Ikogosi Warm Spring and Olumirin Waterfall. These were with a view to providing a database on the services and benefits offered by these ecosystems and give information on the drivers of ecosystem degradation that have been eroding these values
The study was conducted in two phases: field survey and laboratory investigation. Soil and water samples were collected using standard methods to determine their physicochemical parameters. Ecosystem services were evaluated using the carbon tax and industrial oxygen price methods for carbon sequestration and oxygen regulatory services. The market valuation method was used to determine water provisioning services. Travel cost methods were used to estimate cultural benefits. The total ecosystem services of the study areas in monetary terms were calculated by adding carbon sequestration and oxygen potential, water storage capacity, water purification, nutrient cycling, erosion prevention, water consumption, and recreational values. The ecosystem service values of the two sites were then compared. A participatory framework approach was used to develop support tools for managing and sustaining resources of the study areas. Pearson correlation was used to find relationship between the variables while qualitative data was analysed using a thematic approach.
The study identified four ecosystem services in the study areas. The total ecosystem services estimated in 2022 was US$132.19 million. Ikogosi Warm Spring contributedUS$ 78.37 million, while the contribution of Olumirin Waterfall was US$ 53.82 million. The contributions of individual ecosystem services at Ikogosi Warm Spring were carbon sequestration (43.8%) >water regulation (29.93%)> water purification (15.96%) > oxygen potential (6.93%), >nutrient recycling (3.23%) > erosion prevention (0.09%). For Olumirin waterfall, the level of contributions of individual ecosystem services was carbon sequestration (39.94%) >water regulation (39.01%) >oxygen potential (13.98%) >water purification (2.75%) > erosion prevention (0.11%). Soil chemical characteristics of the study areas were total nitrogen 8.40 g/kg (Ikogosi Warm Spring), 7.00 g/kg (Olumirin Waterfalls); organic matter 58.00 g/kg (Ikogosi Warm Spring), 26.00 g/kg (Olumirin Waterfalls); available phosphorus 0.80 mg/kg (Ikogosi Warm Spring) and 0.54 m/kg (Olumirin Waterfalls). The water alkalinity was 0.15 mg /l (Ikogosi Warm Spring), 2.40 mg/l (Olumirin Waterfalls); total dissolved solids 0.03 mg/l (Ikogosi Warm Spring), 171.60 mg /l (Olumirin Waterfalls); total hardness 1.13 mg/l (Ikogosi Warm Spring), 0.95 mg/l (Olumirin Waterfalls); turbidity 10.81 (NTU) (Ikogosi Warm Spring), 0.80 NTU (Olumirin Waterfalls) and electrical conductivity 12.06 (μS/cm) (Ikogosi Warm Spring), 1.10 (μS/cm) (Olumirin Waterfalls), Ca2+ (3.44) (mg/l) (Ikogosi Warm Spring), 0.10 (mg/l) (Olumirin Waterfalls); Mg2+ (1.23) (mg/l) (Ikogosi Warm Spring), 0.25 (mg/l) (Olumirin Waterfalls) and dissolved oxygen, 0.25 (mg/l) (Ikogosi Warm Spring), 0.05 (mg/l) (Olumirin Waterfalls) . All the water samples results were below the permissible limits. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and in-depth interviews from the study showed the negligence of local communities in the sustenance and management of tourist destinations.
This study concluded that land use and deforestation were the drivers of ecosystem degradation in the study areas.
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xxii, 254p
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Citation
Olusola, J.A.(2023). Assessment of ecosystem services of Ikogosi warm spring, Ikogosi and Olumirin waterfall, Erin- Ijesa, Southwest, Nigeria.Department of ecology and Enivronmental studies, Faculty of science,Obafemi Awolowo University.