IMPACT OF THE COMMUNAL LAND TENURE ON OPEN SPACES IN ILE-IFE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Open Space is an important element of the human environment and which is sadly being deliberately reduced and depleted at a very rapid and alarming rate. However, since open space and other land uses are a reflection of the society’s response to socio-economic, institutional and management frameworks such as the land tenure system used for the acquisition, management, allocation and servicing of land, this issue cannot be treated in isolation. This research critically examined the impact of communal land tenure on open spaces in Ile-Ife by identifying the classes or types of open spaces existing in the area, assessing the trend in use of open spaces in the study area, examining the current land tenure system in the study area and assessing the impacts of the communal land tenure system on the use of open spaces. This was achieved through a land use/land cover analysis from year 2000 to 2019 and a survey research involving the administration of questionnaires to 286 household heads from across seven traditional communities sampled using the probability random sampling technique. Findings revealed that open spaces in the study area are majorly incidental with an increasing rate of depletion and deliberate conversion into other uses mostly residential and commercial uses as a result of the communal land tenure system in the area. Sequel to problems identified, recommendations such as adoption of a central framework for land administration and promoting synergy between the planning agencies and the traditional leaders for better adherence to planning regulations and laws.