| Peer-Reviewed

Understanding Coastal Residents’ Perception on Urban Green Spaces in Benin, West Africa

Received: 7 January 2023     Accepted: 30 January 2023     Published: 14 February 2023
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Urban green spaces have several benefits for humans and environment as ecosystem services that are neglected and underestimated in developing countries. This study was undertaken to assess the importance of UGS to citizens’ communities, evaluate threats to their viability, and identify participatory strategies locally applicable for urban green space viability in three cities (Ouidah, Cotonou and Porto-Novo) of Benin. Surveys were conducted with a questionnaire and 360 respondents were selected from three cities. Data were analyzed belonging to socioeconomic variables such as age, gender, and educational levels. Chi-square test, correlations through corrplot packages, and Principal Component Analysis were also performed under R software. Results reveal six services: shading, air pollutants absorption, aesthetics, recreation, medicinal uses, and economic benefit. However, communities also consider urban green spaces as dumping waste, mosquito lodges, and threats to roads and buildings cracking with roots. These benefits and disturbances differed significantly between the three cities (χ2 = 110.65; p < 0.001) and three categories of interviewees (χ2 = 25.32; p = 0.004). Urban green spaces are also illegally cut, debarked, pruned, topped, and rooted. Otherwise, communities' willingness to participate in urban green management varies belonging to gender. Therefore, urban green spaces play an important socioeconomic role for surrounding communities and it’s urgent to ensure the viability of these ecosystems.

Published in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Volume 12, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.aff.20231201.12
Page(s) 8-17
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Conservation, Citizens’ Perception, Participatory Planning, Socioeconomic Effect, Urban Green Space, Urban Management Policy

References
[1] Chow, W. T. L., Nur, S., Binte, A., Akbar, A., Li, S. & Roth, M. (2016). Assessment of measured and perceived microclimates within a tropical urban forest. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 16. 62–75. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2016.01.010.
[2] Hsieh, C-M. & Jan Zhang, L. (2016). A simplified assessment of how tree allocation, wind environment. and shading affect human comfort. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 18. 126–137.
[3] Wu, J. (2008). Toward a landscape ecology of cities: beyond buildings. trees. and urban forests. In: Carreiro MM. Song Y-C. Wu J (eds) Ecology. planning. and management of urban forests: international perspectives. Springer. New York. pp. 10–28.
[4] Lopez, F. and Roussel, J. M. (2010). Encombrement des trottoirs: Les espaces verts. Une voirie pour tous. Fiche n° 3.5. 10.
[5] Kenney, W. A., van Wasseanaer, P. J. E. & Satel, A. L. (2011). Criteria and Indicators for Strategic Urban Forest Planning and Management. Arboriculture & Urban Forestry. 37: 108–117.
[6] Madlener, R., & Sunak, Y. (2011). Impacts of urbanization on urban structures and energy demand: What can we learn for urban energy planning and urbanization management? Sustainable Cities and Society, 1 (1), 45-53.
[7] Yin, S., Shen, Z., Zhou, P., Che, S. & Wang, W. (2011). Quantifying air pollution attenuation within urban parks: An experimental approach in Shanghai. China. Environmental Pollution. Vol. 159. 8–9. 2155–2163 pp.
[8] Richardson, E. A. & Mitchell, R. (2010). Gender differences in relationships between urban green space and health in the United Kingdom. Social Science & Medicine. 17 (3): 568–575.
[9] Wu, S., Hou, Y. & Yuan, G. (2010). Évaluation des biens et services de l’écosystème forestier et du capital forestier naturel de la municipalité de Beijing. Chine. Unasylva 234/235. Vol 6. 28-36pp.
[10] Morris, N. (2003). Health. well-being and open space: literature review. Edinburgh OPEN space.
[11] Kirschbaum, M. U. F. (2004). Direct and Indirect Climate Change Effects on Photosynthesis and Transpiration. Plant Biology. 6 (3): 242–253. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2004-820883
[12] UNDP (United Nations Development Program). (2007). Human Development Report 2007/2008 Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world. New York. UNDP. 399p.
[13] Teka, O., Togbe, C. E., Djikpo, R., Chabi, R. & Djossa, B. (2017). Effects of urban forestry on the local climate in Cotonou. Benin republic. Agriculture. Forestry and Fisheries. 6 (4): 123–129. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20170604.13. ISSN: 2328-563X (Print). ISSN: 2328–5648 (Online).
[14] IPCC. (2014). Climate Change 2014: Impacts. Adaptation. and Vulnerability. Part A: Global and Sectoral Aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. UK and New York. NY. USA 1132.
[15] Litschke, T. and Kuttler, W. 2008. On the reduction of urban particle concentration by vegetation — a review. Meteorologische Zeitschrift. 17 (3): 229-240.
[16] Georgescu, M., Chow, W. T. L., Wang, Z. H., Brazel, A., Trapido-Lurie, B., Roth, M. and Benson-Lira, V. 2015. Prioritizing urban sustainability solutions: coordinated approaches must incorporate scale-dependent built environment induced effects. Environmental Research Letters. 10 (6): 061001.
[17] INSAE. (2016). Rapport du Quatrième Recensement General de la Population et de l’Habitation. Cotonou. Bénin. 35 p.
[18] FAO. (2011). Situation des forêts du monde. Rome. Italie. 176p.
[19] Barry, A. A., Caesar, J., Klein Tank, A. M. G., Aguilar, E., McSweeney, C., Cyrille, A. M. & Laogbessi, E. T. (2018). West Africa climate extremes and climate change indices. International Journal of Climatology, 38, e921-e938.
[20] Guédjé, F. K., Houngninou, B. E., Honvou, F. S., & Kougbéagbédè, H. (2016). Trend of temperatures in Cotonou between 1970 and 2008 in the context of climate change. International Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research, 25 (1), 241-245.
[21] Amontcha, A. M., Djego, J. G., Imorou, I. T., & Sinsin, B. A. (2017). Phyto-diversite et utilisations des espaces verts prives dans les villes du grand Nokoue (Sud-Benin). Journal de la Recherche Scientifique de l’Université de Lomé, 19 (2), 117-139.
[22] INSAE. (2013). Quatrième Recensement Général de la Population et de l’Habitation. Institut National de la Statistique et de l’Analyse Economique (septembre 2013). Cotonou. Bénin.
[23] Dagnelie, P. (1998). Statistiques théoriques et appliquées. Brussels: De Boeck. 517 p.
[24] Teixeira, F. Z., Bachi, L., Blanco, J., Zimmermann, I., Welle, I. and Carvalho-Ribeiro, S. N. (2019). Perceived ecosystem services (ES) and ecosystem disservices (EDS) from trees: insights from three case studies in Brazil and France, Landscape Ecology, 34, pp. 1583-1600.
[25] Phillips, O., & Gentry, A. H. (1993). The useful plants of Tambopata. Peru: I. Statistical hypothesis tests with a new quantitative technique. Economic Botany. 47. 15–32.
[26] R Core Team. 2017. R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing. Vienna. Austria.
[27] Taiyun, W. and Viliam, S. (2017). R package “corrplot”: Visualization of a Correlation Matrix (Version 0.84). https://github.com/taiyun/corrplot.
[28] Teka, O. and Vogt, J. (2010). Social perception of natural risks by local residents in developing countries-The example of the coastal area of Benin. Social Science Journal. 47. 215–224.
[29] Wolf, K. L. (2005). Trees in the small city retail business district: Comparing resident and visitor perceptions. Journal of Forestry. 103 (8): 390–395.
[30] Meyer, J. L., Paul, M. J. and Taulbee, W. K. (2005). Stream ecosystem function in urbanizing landscapes. Journal of the North American Benthological Society. 24 (3): 602–612.
[31] Armson, D., Stringer, P. and Ennos, A. R. 2012. The effect of tree shade and grass on surface and globe temperatures in an urban area. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 11 (3): 245–255.
[32] Ho, C. H., Sasidharan, V., Elmendorf, W., Willits, F. K., Graefe, A., & Godbey, G. (2005). Gender and ethnic variations in urban parks preferences, visitations, and perceived benefits. Journal of Leisure Research. 37. 281–306.
[33] Kothencz, G., Kolcsár, R., Cabrera-Barona, P., & Szilassi, P. (2017). Urban Green Space Perception and Its Contribution to Well-Being. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 14 (7). 766. http://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14070766.
[34] Bell, S., Morris, N., Findlay, C., Travlou, P., Montarzino, A., Gooch, D. (2004). Nature for people: The importance of green spaces to east midlands communities. Research report no. 567. Peterborough. England: English Nature.
[35] Chiesura, A. (2004). The role of urban parks for the sustainable city. Landscape and Urban Planning. 68. 129–138.
[36] Vergriete, Y. & Labrecque, M. (2007). Rôle des arbres et des plantes grimpantes en milieu urbain: Revue de littérature et tentative d’extrapolation au contexte montréalais. Rapport pour le Conseil régional de l’environnement de Montréal. Jardin botanique de Montréal. Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Montréal. 35.
[37] Polorigni, B., Radji, R. and Kokou, K. (2014). Perceptions, tendances et préférences en foresterie urbaine: cas de la ville de Lomé au Togo. European Scientific Journal. ESJ. 10 (5).
[38] Damien, GB. Djènontin, A. Rogier, C. (2010). Malaria infection and disease in an area with pyrethroid-resistant vectors in southern Benin. Malar Journal. 9: 380. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-9-380. PMID: 21194470.
[39] Nahum, A., Erhart, A. and Mayé, A. (2010). Malaria incidence and prevalence among children living in a peri-urban area on the coast of benin, west Africa: A longitudinal study. Am J Trop Med Hyg; 83 (3): 465-73. http://dx.doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0611. PMID: 20810805.
[40] Djogbénou, L. Pasteur, N. Akogbéto, M. Weill, M. Chandre, F. (2011). Insecticide resistance in the Anopheles gambiae complex in Benin: A nationwide survey. Med Vet Entomol. 25 (3): 256-67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2915.2010.00925.x. PMID: 21155858.
[41] Govoetchan, R. Gnanguenon, V. Azondékon, R. (2014). Evidence for perennial malaria in rural and urban areas under the Sudanian climate of Kandi. Northeastern Benin. Parasit Vectors. 7: 79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-79. PMID: 24564957.
[42] Accrombessi, M., Fievet, N., Yovo. E., Cottrell, G., Agbota, G., Massougbodji, A., Cot, M., Briand, V. (2018). Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Malaria in the First Trimester of Pregnancy: A Preconceptional Cohort Study in Benin. The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 217 (8): 1309–1317. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiy009.
[43] Tyrvaїnen, L. (2001). Economic valuation of urban forest benefits in Finland. Journal of Environmental Management. 62: 75–92.
[44] Jim, C. Y. and Chen, W. Y. (2006). Perception and Attitude of Residents Toward Urban Green Spaces in Guangzhou (China). Environmental Management. 38 (3): 338–349. DOI: 10.1007/s00267-005-0166-6.
[45] Hunter, I. R. (2001). What do people want from urban forestry? The Europe experience. Urban Ecosystems 5: 277–284.
[46] NATUREPARIF. (2012). Politiques urbaines et biodiversité. Recueil d’actions de villes et agglomérations françaises et européennes. Iles de France. 116.
[47] Osseni, A. A., Toko, M., Tohozin, B., & Sinsin, B. (2015). SIG et gestion des espaces verts dans la ville de PortoNovo au Bénin. Tropicultura, 33 (2), 146-156.
[48] FAO. (2002). Proceedings of the Workshop on Rural Radio and Food Security. 5–9 November 2001. Food and Agriculture Organization. Rome.
[49] MEHU/DUA. (2006). Revue du secteur urbain au Bénin. Étude préparatoire, volet socioéconomique infrastructures et équipement. Rapport de synthèse. Cotonou. Bénin. 269.
[50] Ouinsavi, C. (2000). In situ conservation of Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss: socioeconomic relevance, structure and dynamic of natural communities and productivity of trial plantations in Benin. Engineer Agronomist Thesis. FSA/UAC. Abomey-Calavi. Benin. 120 p.
[51] Sokpon, N. and Ouinsavi, C. (2004). Gestion des plantations de Khaya senegalensis au Bénin. Bois et Forêts des Tropiques. 279 (1) 37.
[52] Campese, J., Sunderland, T., Greiber, T., Oviedo, G. (2009). Rights-based Approaches: Exploring Issues and Opportunities for Conservation. (Eds.) CIFOR and IUCN. Bogor.
[53] Ogunleye-Adetona, C. I. and Oladeinde, C. (2013). The role of community selfhelp projects in rural development of Kwara state, Nigeria. International Journal of Development and Sustainability. 2 (1): 28–45.
[54] Vanclay, F., Esteves, A. M., Aucamp, I., & Franks, D. (2015). Social Impact Assessment: Guidance for assessing and managing the social impacts of projects. Fargo ND: International Association for Impact Assessment. 107p. http://www.rug.nl/research/portal.
[55] Costanza, R., Hart, M., Posner, S., Talberth, J. (2009). Beyond GDP: The Need for New Measures of Progress. Pardee Paper No. 4. Boston: Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Djikpo Vignon Adelphe Rosos, Teka Oscar, Djossa Bruno, Oumorou Madjidou, Sinsin Brice. (2023). Understanding Coastal Residents’ Perception on Urban Green Spaces in Benin, West Africa. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 12(1), 8-17. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20231201.12

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Djikpo Vignon Adelphe Rosos; Teka Oscar; Djossa Bruno; Oumorou Madjidou; Sinsin Brice. Understanding Coastal Residents’ Perception on Urban Green Spaces in Benin, West Africa. Agric. For. Fish. 2023, 12(1), 8-17. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20231201.12

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Djikpo Vignon Adelphe Rosos, Teka Oscar, Djossa Bruno, Oumorou Madjidou, Sinsin Brice. Understanding Coastal Residents’ Perception on Urban Green Spaces in Benin, West Africa. Agric For Fish. 2023;12(1):8-17. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20231201.12

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.aff.20231201.12,
      author = {Djikpo Vignon Adelphe Rosos and Teka Oscar and Djossa Bruno and Oumorou Madjidou and Sinsin Brice},
      title = {Understanding Coastal Residents’ Perception on Urban Green Spaces in Benin, West Africa},
      journal = {Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries},
      volume = {12},
      number = {1},
      pages = {8-17},
      doi = {10.11648/j.aff.20231201.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20231201.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aff.20231201.12},
      abstract = {Urban green spaces have several benefits for humans and environment as ecosystem services that are neglected and underestimated in developing countries. This study was undertaken to assess the importance of UGS to citizens’ communities, evaluate threats to their viability, and identify participatory strategies locally applicable for urban green space viability in three cities (Ouidah, Cotonou and Porto-Novo) of Benin. Surveys were conducted with a questionnaire and 360 respondents were selected from three cities. Data were analyzed belonging to socioeconomic variables such as age, gender, and educational levels. Chi-square test, correlations through corrplot packages, and Principal Component Analysis were also performed under R software. Results reveal six services: shading, air pollutants absorption, aesthetics, recreation, medicinal uses, and economic benefit. However, communities also consider urban green spaces as dumping waste, mosquito lodges, and threats to roads and buildings cracking with roots. These benefits and disturbances differed significantly between the three cities (χ2 = 110.65; p 2 = 25.32; p = 0.004). Urban green spaces are also illegally cut, debarked, pruned, topped, and rooted. Otherwise, communities' willingness to participate in urban green management varies belonging to gender. Therefore, urban green spaces play an important socioeconomic role for surrounding communities and it’s urgent to ensure the viability of these ecosystems.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Understanding Coastal Residents’ Perception on Urban Green Spaces in Benin, West Africa
    AU  - Djikpo Vignon Adelphe Rosos
    AU  - Teka Oscar
    AU  - Djossa Bruno
    AU  - Oumorou Madjidou
    AU  - Sinsin Brice
    Y1  - 2023/02/14
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20231201.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.aff.20231201.12
    T2  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
    JF  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
    JO  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
    SP  - 8
    EP  - 17
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5648
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20231201.12
    AB  - Urban green spaces have several benefits for humans and environment as ecosystem services that are neglected and underestimated in developing countries. This study was undertaken to assess the importance of UGS to citizens’ communities, evaluate threats to their viability, and identify participatory strategies locally applicable for urban green space viability in three cities (Ouidah, Cotonou and Porto-Novo) of Benin. Surveys were conducted with a questionnaire and 360 respondents were selected from three cities. Data were analyzed belonging to socioeconomic variables such as age, gender, and educational levels. Chi-square test, correlations through corrplot packages, and Principal Component Analysis were also performed under R software. Results reveal six services: shading, air pollutants absorption, aesthetics, recreation, medicinal uses, and economic benefit. However, communities also consider urban green spaces as dumping waste, mosquito lodges, and threats to roads and buildings cracking with roots. These benefits and disturbances differed significantly between the three cities (χ2 = 110.65; p 2 = 25.32; p = 0.004). Urban green spaces are also illegally cut, debarked, pruned, topped, and rooted. Otherwise, communities' willingness to participate in urban green management varies belonging to gender. Therefore, urban green spaces play an important socioeconomic role for surrounding communities and it’s urgent to ensure the viability of these ecosystems.
    VL  - 12
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Bénin

  • Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Bénin

  • Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Bénin

  • Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Bénin

  • Laboratory of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Bénin

  • Sections