Lagos Marina Landscape
The Lagos State Government devised a nice plan to reclaim and beautify patches of land that miscreants use as den and open air latrine across the state. The plan included the landscaping of the outer Marina in Lagos Island to look just like others in the developed world. The government threw millions of naira into the Marina project and it came out looking good. but, barely three years after, the Marina is going back to its past detestable state, writes Bennett Oghifo
Barely three years ago, the Lagos State Government put huge financial resources into improving the landscape of open spaces along major roads. Some of these reclaimed areas are still pleasant to the eyes while, regrettably, others have since deteriorated.
In most areas, wild grass is either competing with flowers or have completely taken over, because nobody tends the lawns. Both sides of the outer Marina Road in Lagos Island that once looked lush and pristine because of the well-tended landscaping are now looking forlorn.
Most of the ornamental trees are gone and on the Lagoon side, particularly, where the deterioration is more pronounced, most of the interlocking stones are out from the sidewalks, which have collapsed in some places.
The broken sidewalk has been turned into trading post for motorboat fuel and other unwholesome merchandise.
The garden benches have been vandalised and are almost covered by weeds. The whole setting is encouraging a return of destitute, who use the place as open air latrine.
However, efforts to speak with the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, before press time was not successful.
In the Beginning…
The landscaping and reconstruction projects were deliberately planned by Governor Babatunde Fashola.
The landscaping and reconstruction involved planting of trees, grass, and shrubs along major roads, widening and redesigning of roads, street lights, and demolition of illegal structures.
Recently, the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency was established as an initiative of the State Government to beautify and regenerate Lagos environment from the effect of climate change.
“This cannot be over-emphasised as the intensity of global warming is real as a lot of damage is being done to animals, plants and human beings thereby, causing serious threat to the entire ecosystem.”
Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, officials said, was committed to building on the tremendous work done by the Conservation and Ecology Department of the ministry of Environment: the champion of the green initiative in the state. Their relentless efforts at establishing gardens and parks all over Lagos have placed her among the notable green cities in the world today. These efforts were recognised when Lagos was mentioned alongside Johannesburg as one of the most improved and green compliant cities during the Environment Summit (RIO 20+) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2012.
Effect On The Environment…
Landscaping of open spaces is done for various reasons, including reduction of storm water runoff, reduction of local flooding; control of extreme temperature, staying cool in dry periods and warm during the rains; erosion control, reducing loss of soil in waterways; reduction in evaporation and soil degradation.
There are also social reasons for landscaping and these include creating green buffer zones for communities; local noise and heat reduction; attractive environment for entertaining and relaxing; and enhancing high density developments.
“To fully reap the benefits of a well designed and executed landscape, one must be sure to provide care and maintenance while monitoring its health,” said Soni Oami, an expert in Landscape, adding, “Not unlike your pets, children or even yourself, your landscape requires proper nutrition, grooming and check-ups to ensure consistent healthy growth. The best designed landscape, with the best landscape plants and with the absolute best installation techniques, will not flourish or increase in beauty or value without proper care. In fact, this same beautiful landscape could become an unsightly landmark.”
According to Olu Ola Ogunsote Professor, Department of Architecture, Federal University of Technology, Akure, the reclamation of public spaces previously turned into refuse dumps and the creation of mini-parks and gardens by the state government had significantly improved the beauty and attraction of Lagos.
“From an environmental viewpoint however, the greening of the city has demonstrated that it can grow in a sustainable manner, and that healthy living in a megacity is possible. The employment opportunities generated by this scheme are also significant,” he said.
Before the introduction of the landscaping projects by the government, he said most spaces under overhead bridges had been taken over by illegal structures, touts, lunatics and refuse dumps. Many have now been converted to car parks and properly landscaped. Examples include bridges along the Marina and on Ahmadu Bello Way on Victoria Island.
Direct Benefit…
Ventilated shading provided by trees, shrubs and climbers can be used for the control of radiant temperature, and reduction of air, ground and surface temperature. Ventilated shading reduces the amount of solar radiation reaching ground and wall surfaces, thereby reducing the sol-air temperature, which is an indication of the globe temperature.
Plants in general increase the humidity of the area and can therefore increase the human thermal comfort during hot, dry seasons.
Plants are used to reduce wind speed and to increase the velocity of stagnant and slow-moving air. Wind breakers in the form of rows of trees are a very effective way of reducing wind speed and filtering dust. Landscaping can be used to direct wind away from buildings, or towards buildings. Fences, walls, hedges and trees can be combined to form an obstruction that will deflect the wind above buildings. On larger plots, groups of trees can be used to channel the wind in a particular direction. Landscaping can be used to control the rate at which surfaces absorb and reflect solar radiation.
The choice of plants can be used to control the amount of shading in different seasons. In the dry, cold season, trees are used to block the cold northern wind while allowing the sun in from the South. The cold season wind can be blocked by plant material, especially thick evergreens and plants with heavy foliage. A good design will have planting with deciduous trees on the South, which cool the air in the hot season and drop their leaves in the cold season.
Plants are very effective in controlling levels of pollution. They absorb dangerous gases like carbondioxide that are associated with urban heat islands. They also reduce the levels of other pollutants, especially from automobiles. Buffer zones planted with trees are used for separating industrial areas from residential areas.
Direct glare can be prevented by using trees to block off the relevant portions of the sky while indirect glare can be prevented by planting flowers, shrubs and grass on surfaces that would normally reflect light into the building.
Plants produce oxygen and fragrances, which create the refreshing atmosphere of gardens. While the freshness of the air and fragrance may not be measurable by climatic variables, the improvement in the microclimate is unquestionable.
Topo-climate control can be achieved by hard and soft landscaping elements. Soft landscaping elements refer to vegetation while the hard landscaping elements are all other elements including simple structures, steps, paving, garden furniture, walls and fences.
The choice of the surface finishing, material and construction of steps and paving can play a significant role in the reduction of ground temperature. The use of asphalt in parking lots without any form of shade is a primary source of discomfort.
Some of the most notable beautification projects involve the conversion of road medians and areas around cloverleaf interchanges to mini parks. These public spaces had hitherto been taken over by rubbish dumps and squatters, and in most instances they served as open air toilets. Examples are the Gani Fawehinmi Park, the M.K.O. Abiola Gardens and medians along major road arteries. The Gani Fawehinmi Park and the M.K.O. Abiola Gardens are located around the popular Ojota interchange, and they were built on public areas around the interchange hitherto occupied by shanties erected by squatters and by rubbish dumps. Medians along major highways have been turned into gardens in all parts of the State, but this beautification is most evident in Ikeja, on Ikoyi Island and on Victoria Island.
Lack Of Maintenance…
Experts in landscaping say urban areas offer unique challenges to landscape plans and the maintenance of these plants. “Tight spaces, poor soil, poor air circulation, and reflective heat from buildings/glass are some of the unique challenges that we face in keeping healthy trees, shrubs and ground covers in a downtown environment.”
These landscape experts, known as Buck said, “Unlike many service-based businesses that can provide for your needs with one phone call, professional landscape contracting requires at least one site visit prior to submitting a sound, responsible proposal for any given job. Several factors must be taken into account when dealing with living plants. Considerations such as exposure to winds, heat, drought, foot traffic, overhangs and sunlight are some of the most common concerns.”
They said, “Equally important during the site evaluation process are the site itself for soil type and condition, drainage, irrigation, site usage, aesthetics and ultimate expectations are items that must be evaluated by the professional landscape contractor. Potential insect and disease pests must also be considered.”
