An Assessment on Urban Green Infrastructure Development and Challenges: A case of Wolkite Town, Gurage Zone, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

The concept of urban green infrastructure is being implemented as part of future land use plans in cities around the world. This study was aimed to assessing current status and challenges of urban green infrastructure development in Wolkite town. To achieve the aforementioned research objective, a mixed research approach was used. Representative sample respondents and key informant were selected using random and purposive sampling methods, respectively. Questionnaire, key informant interview were used as tools of data collection. Data obtained via survey questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 26). Data collected by document review and key informant interviews were analyzed by description for method of triangulation. The findings of the study revealed that road side plantation was the common urban green infrastructure in the study area. However, the status of urban green infrastructure is very poor this lead to dissatisfaction among the dwellers. Increasing green areas coverage had encouraging effect on urban green infrastructure while lack of strategic plan to facilitate the development and management of urban green infrastructure and lack of reserved spaces was identified as the major problem in the town. Based on the findings of the study, it concludes that urban green infrastructure in the study are faces various challenges and as a result to improve the coverage and quantity of urban green infrastructure of Wolkite town used its maximum effort on it, Wolkite town administration and municipality administration should give consideration for plan, implantation and rules regarding urban green infrastructure in the study are