Diversity and Availability of Green Spaces in Comparison with the World Health Organization (WHO) Standard: Evidence from Sahelian Cities of Niger, West Africa

  • Assoumane Guero Ousseini Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Science and Technology Faculty, Biology Department, Garba Mounkaïla Laboratory, Niamey, Niger
  • Inoussa Maman Maarouhi Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Science and Technology Faculty, Biology Department, Garba Mounkaïla Laboratory, Niamey, Niger
  • Moussa Soule Dan Dicko Dankoulodo University of Maradi (UDDM), Science and Technology Faculty, Biology Department, Maradi, Niger
  • Abdoulaye Abdou Siradji Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Science and Technology Faculty, Biology Department, Garba Mounkaïla Laboratory, Niamey, Niger
  • Amadou Mounkaila Hama Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Science and Technology Faculty, Biology Department, Garba Mounkaïla Laboratory, Niamey, Niger
  • Malam Bachir Jana Abdoul Wahab Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Science and Technology Faculty, Biology Department, Garba Mounkaïla Laboratory, Niamey, Niger
  • Moussa Beidou Halimatou Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Science and Technology Faculty, Biology Department, Garba Mounkaïla Laboratory, Niamey, Niger
  • Sita Issa Maiga Abdoul Kader Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Science and Technology Faculty, Biology Department, Garba Mounkaïla Laboratory, Niamey, Niger
  • Yahaya Saidou Abdoul Aziz Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Science and Technology Faculty, Biology Department, Garba Mounkaïla Laboratory, Niamey, Niger
  • Douma Soumana Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Science and Technology Faculty, Biology Department, Garba Mounkaïla Laboratory, Niamey, Niger
  • Bakasso Yacoubou Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Science and Technology Faculty, Biology Department, Garba Mounkaïla Laboratory, Niamey, Niger
  • Mahamane Ali Abdou Moumouni University (UAM), Science and Technology Faculty, Biology Department, Garba Mounkaïla Laboratory, Niamey, Niger
Keywords: Green spaces, biodiversity, urban ecology, Sahelian cities, Niger

Abstract

As urban populations grow, accessible nature remains fundamental to balanced and resilient city planning. This study aims to assess public green spaces’ typology and abundance in Niamey, Maradi, Tahoua, and Zinder cities. To identify green spaces, a transect survey method was employed alongside data acquired from the municipal authorities of these studied cities. Findings revealed that Niger metropolises host 228 public green spaces distributed across eight specific types, including roadside trees (81.14%), urban woods (3.07%), the green belt (0.44%), memorial green spaces (0.88%), public gardens (1.75%), parks (1.32%), green roundabouts (2.63%), and squares (8.77%). The spatial configuration of these urban forests is overwhelmingly characterized by linear formations (81.14%). With an average area of 18.41 ha, this study highlights the predominance of small-sized public green spaces within these Sahelian cities. While 11.11% of urban forests exhibit no faunal occupancy, 38.64% of these green spaces are left unmaintained. Nevertheless, none of these studied municipalities achieved the World Health Organization’s recommended target of 10 m² of public green space per capita for optimal livability. Consequently, municipal leaders of these four largest cities must prioritize green spaces in their upcoming urban planning strategies.

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Published
2026-09-15
How to Cite
Ousseini, A. G., Maarouhi, I. M., Soule, M., Siradji, A. A., Hama, A. M., Abdoul Wahab, M. B. J., Halimatou, M. B., Abdoul Kader, S. I. M., Abdoul Aziz, Y. S., Soumana, D., Yacoubou, B., & Ali, M. (2026). Diversity and Availability of Green Spaces in Comparison with the World Health Organization (WHO) Standard: Evidence from Sahelian Cities of Niger, West Africa. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 57, 587. Retrieved from https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/21525
Issue
Vol 57 (2026): ESI Preprints
Section
ESI Preprints

Copyright (c) 2026 Assoumane Guero Ousseini, Inoussa Maman Maarouhi, Moussa Soule, Abdoulaye Abdou Siradji, Amadou Mounkaila Hama, Malam Bachir Jana Abdoul Wahab, Moussa Beidou Halimatou, Sita Issa Maiga Abdoul Kader, Yahaya Saidou Abdoul Aziz, Douma Soumana, Bakasso Yacoubou, Mahamane Ali

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