Fostering Urban Nature Amidst Rapid Urbanization: Evaluation of Urban Green Spaces in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

Urbanization in African cities is hoped to bring prosperity and economic development. However, its rapid pace and unregulated nature becomes a formidable challenge for urban sustainability, leading to a significant decline of urban green spaces. While prior studies identified institutional challenges for protecting urban green spaces in African cities, a comparative study of these challenges, especially among cities with different land tenure and governance system, is lacking. Additionally, Africa’s urbanization is largely associated with informal development but the link between informality and green space use is lightly studied. Filling this gap, my research investigates institutional challenges for protecting urban green spaces and how these vary under unitary land tenure and polycentric governance (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) and multiple land tenure and monocentric governance (Kampala, Uganda), how communities perceive and use urban green spaces and how this varies among residents of formal housings and informal settlements. First, my research examines the institutional challenges of protecting urban green spaces in Addis Ababa and Kampala, focusing on how these challenges vary under different land tenure and governance systems. In Addis Ababa, there is a polycentric governance structure, and all public green spaces are state owned. In Kampala, there is a monocentric governance structure and public green spaces are divided amongst three land tenure systems (private, communal, and state ownership). Data from 26 in-depth interviews with diverse stakeholders were analyzed to uncover institutional challenges. The findings reveal that despite differences in land tenure and governance, both cities face common challenges, including inefficient and unenforceable legal frameworks, inadequate green space planning and implementation, limited human and financial resources, and informal decision-making processes. The study found no support for the polycentric governance model, which failed in Addis Ababa due to a lack of enabling factors (administrative accountability and transparency). However, it suggests that a diversified land tenure system, as implemented in Kampala, could improve land ownership rights and better protect urban green spaces. My research further examines residents’ perceptions and use of urban green spaces, focusing on differences between formal housings and informal settlements. Using ordinal regression, I analyzed data from 241 households to explore the frequency of green space visits and factors influencing it, such as demographic characteristics, satisfaction with green spaces, and residential characteristics. The findings indicate that housing type influences visitation frequency, with residents of formal high-rise housing visiting green spaces more often than others. Additionally, factors like satisfaction with green space conditions (e.g., aesthetics, amenities, and safety) and demographic characteristics, particularly age, significantly impact visit frequency. My research also explores how residents’ preferred activities in urban green spaces—such as socialization, physical activity, and nature interaction—affect visitation frequency. I use survey data from 241 households and apply binomial regression to examine the relationship between demographic characteristics, activity preferences, and green space use frequency. Physical activity, ranging from light to vigorous exercise, emerges as the most popular activity and residents’ satisfaction with preferred activities strongly predicts their visitation frequency. My research guide policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders in designing strategies to enhance urban green space provision and protection. It contributes to the current efforts revisiting the institutional and legal frameworks in East African cities and reforming strategies for green space planning and management through introducing user-oriented and community-engaged planning approaches.