The Significant Role of Horticulture In Environmental Aesthetics and Management
The aesthetic use of plants is a unique feature of horticulture which is also distinguishing it from other agricultural activities. The need to bring the attention of people and governments to the importance of maintaining the biodiversity of planet Earth and also ensuring that the on-coming generations inherit a cleaner, greener, more ecologically sustainable world cannot be overemphasized, and horticulturist have worked towards this goal by enhancing the beauty and quality of our surroundings. The urbanized environment, where 95 % of the world population lives, is a place plagued with excessive traffic, air and water pollution and the lack of open space, have destroyed natural diversity and beauty and thus, demand for massive increase in greenery and beautification for environmental restoration and protection. The functional and aesthetic interaction of people, building and site, using plants and space as its main tools is very important in solving environmental problems. In Nigeria for example the role of horticulture as a feasible means of improving urban green space, aesthetics and improvement of the built environment can be attested to through the growth of the green industry, persistent campaigns for more green spaces in the built environment and desire of the concerned government and public for developing sustainable landscapes that: beautify the environment; increase the diversity of plant and animal species; conserve water; reduce runoff and generally enrich the environment and people's lives. This increased interest in green spaces in modern cities ensured that government and urban planners now not only perceive horticulture as a means to urban development and aesthetics of the environment, but as one of the strategies to achieving green revolution in man's environment, and in urban centres. Hence, there is a need for policies that supports horticulture as a tool in city building and development. This paper therefore examined the significance of horticulture in environmental aesthetics and management of the landscape.