Remotely Sensed Ecosystem benefits of tree cover on Enugu Campus of the University of Nigeria

ABSTRACTCarbon dioxide (CO2) is the principal greenhouse gas responsible for the global warming phenomenon. Apart from the various ecosystem benefits (eco-benefits) that trees offer, such as maintaining healthy soil, safeguarding water supplies, reducing global warming, and creating habitats for wildlife, trees can also release oxygen into the atmosphere through photosynthesis – a process by which green plants utilize carbon dioxide (CO2) to manufacture their biomass in the presence of sunlight. Nevertheless, despite Nigeria's unwavering dedication to promoting the Nature Positive University Approach, little is known about the precise distribution of tree cover and the environmental advantages of trees storing carbon emissions on Nigerian university campuses. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to support a nature-positive university approach for a sustainable learning environment by evaluating the carbon emissions and eco-benefits of tree cover distribution on the University of Nigeria's Enugu campus (UNEC) in Southeast Nigeria using data from two open-source remote sensing tools: Global Forest Watch and i-Tree Canopy Cover Assessment. According to the results, UNEC's tree cover increased by 0.41%, that is, less than 1.0 hectare, between 2000 and 2020. This percentage gain implies that trees were added to the University's landmass during the study period. Carbon credits totaling N37, 861,404±1,642,223 are produced as eco-benefits of 339 sampled trees in the study area. Furthermore, this study shows that the trees sampled store 129.34±5.61 tons of carbon annually and sequester 474.25±20.57 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent into their biomass. There was 85% classification agreement between the training data obtained from Google Earth App and the categorized landcover classes in i-Tree Software. In conclusion, all Nigerian university campuses must continuously increase and preserve the amount of tree cover on their grounds for the nation to satisfactorily obtain the UN's Nature Positive Status. It is hereby suggested that the next research line evaluate a ground-based survey to validate the data regarding the actual tree species and diameter at breast height to quantify the actual tree volume available within UNEC.