APPRAISAL OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECOSYSTEM-BASED APPROACHES

Urban resilience has become one of the main themes of modern discourse on sustainable urban development especially in Sub-Saharan Africa where urbanisation is more rapidly accelerating as compared to the ability of the cities to provide sufficient urban infrastructure, social services and environmental security. Some of the most rapidly expanding urban centres in the world can be found in this area such as Lagos, Nairobi, Kinshasa and Addis Ababa.

APPRAISAL OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
AND ECOSYSTEM-BASED APPROACHES IN ENHANCING URBAN
RESILIENCE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN CITIES

AKINADE Adekunle Joshua

Department of Urban and Regional Planning,

The Polytechnic, Ibadan

Email Address: akinadejoshua5@gmail.com | 07033185442; 08071846145

Abstract

In Sub-Saharan Africa, urban resilience has become part of sustainable development as urbanisation, climate change, and environmental degradation pressure are increasing in urban centres. These rush forces have heightened vulnerabilities and solutions which are innovative integrations of nature in the urban systems, are needed. This study presents how the ecological solution of ecosystem and green infrastructure can be the adaptable solution to the development of urban resilience in the selected cities in Africa. The study is based on a desk-based study covering a spectrum of fields and a comparative study of Lagos (Nigeria), Nairobi (Kenya) and Cape Town (South Africa) in order to explore the role of such features as urban forests, wetlands, green roofs, and sustainable drainage systems in bringing about ecological balance, reduction of flood risks and enhancement of urban livability. This paper has shown that even though the potential of ecosystem-based and green infrastructure is well-acknowledged, its application in urban planning is low. The major weaknesses are the poor coordination of institutions, insufficiency of funding, and disjointed governance structures. Nevertheless, Nairobi and Cape Town, as case studies show, show some positive changes with localized policies resulting in real changes in climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and human well-being. In the study, it is recommended that in order to make green infrastructure a standard part of urban development, cities need to become more firmly governed, be able to encourage stakeholder collaboration, and engage in sustainable financing strategies. Finally, increased scale of ecosystem-based interventions is a realistic and participatory solution to resilient, low-carbon, and sustainable urban futures in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: Green infrastructure, ecosystem-based approach, urban resilience, sustainable urban development