Community Greening in Pre and Post Climate Change Knowledge Era in Third World Cities: Case study of Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper reviewed the efforts of the government in community greening during pre and post climate change era in third world cities using Lagos, Nigeria as a case study. This was with a view of understanding the importance green space as a measure of adaptation to climate change in recent years in the study area. The study reviewed secondary data on provision of green space in purposively selected scheme and master plan that pre-date climate change era. Primary data in the form of field observation of the location and size of green space initiated within the city in the post climate change knowledge era, particularly in the last past five (5) years were also considered. The study further reviewed contemporary law and policies of the government as an approach to community greening in the city during the pre-climate change era.Finding revealed that the government is keener toward the provision and maintenance of green space in the study area during the post climate change era than during the pre-climate change era. Within the past six years, 14 public parks and 128 landscape garden were created and maintained in the city. Nineteen (19) of these public parks and garden covers a total land area of 314409.43m2 (77.69 acres). Furthermore, an agency was established for the sole aim of promoting or increasing green area in the city. A fine of N50,000 ($318.5) or one year imprisonment is attached to felling of these trees. There was also massive tree planting exercise, between 2009 and 2010, when about 300,000 trees were planted across the city. The study recommended that the use of hard landscaping element around buildings should be discouraged and appropriate authorities should involve the available local associations and non-governmental organizations (NGO) in all their environmental programmes. It concluded that environmental benefits of providing green space should be given utmost priorities because of the importance of greening the environment during this post climate knowledge eraKey Words: Community, Cities, Greening, Climate Change and Third World