[ Perceptions des usagers à l’égard des espaces verts d’alignement des voies publiques de la commune de Lemba dans la ville de Kinshasa ]
Volume 40, Issue 2, August 2023, Pages 493–504
Rebecca Mitshiabu Mudiayi1, Michel Ndengoli Momangi2, Isaac Kikuni Mubake3, Nipha Ibunga Nkanga4, and Guillaume Lusambu Anelk5
1 Herbarium de Kinshasa, Institut National Pour l’Etude et la Recherche Agronomiques, RD Congo
2 Herbarium de Kinshasa, Institut National Pour l’Etude et la Recherche Agronomiques, RD Congo
3 Département de Gestion des Ressources Naturelles, Université de Kinshasa, RD Congo
4 Filière d’Ecologie et Environnement Urbain, Université de Mbandaka, RD Congo
5 Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Tshikapa, RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2023 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The city of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been marked for some years now by anarchic and ever-increasing urbanisation. This goes hand in hand with galloping demographic growth, which is increasing the pressure on urban green spaces. The resulting environmental impact is likely to increase in the years to come. Green spaces that were once considered a nuisance are now being given special attention, for the well-being of city dwellers. The aim of this study is to identify the benefits of the green spaces lining some of the public roads in the commune of Lemba. In order to carry out this study, a questionnaire was sent to users to gather their opinions on Lemba’s lined green spaces. This questionnaire was supplemented by direct observations in the field to assess the behaviour of the population with regard to these green spaces. The itinerant inventory method was used to identify the plant species present along five major public roads in the municipality under study. A total of 100 users of the green spaces were interviewed at random. The majority of these users were men (67%). Their main reasons for using the green spaces were to relax (33%), enjoy the shade (24%) and the peace and quiet (22%) at certain times of the day. According to these users, green spaces serve mainly to regulate the climate (19%) and beautify the city (17%). The lack of trees on certain roads to provide shade and the absence of public gardens to take advantage of their amenities led 93% of respondents to call for an increase in the number of trees in line and the creation of public gardens. Analysis of the floristic data shows that the tree stock in the Lemba commune’s green spaces includes 22 species divided into 21 genera and 16 botanical families. Nearly 73% of these species (16 species) are of exotic origin and nearly 55% of these plants (12 species) are reported to be edible. These results will enable the local political and administrative authorities to take these areas into account in the planning and development of the city, for the well-being of the population.
Author Keywords: Green space, urban, tree, Lemba, Kinshasa.
Volume 40, Issue 2, August 2023, Pages 493–504
Rebecca Mitshiabu Mudiayi1, Michel Ndengoli Momangi2, Isaac Kikuni Mubake3, Nipha Ibunga Nkanga4, and Guillaume Lusambu Anelk5
1 Herbarium de Kinshasa, Institut National Pour l’Etude et la Recherche Agronomiques, RD Congo
2 Herbarium de Kinshasa, Institut National Pour l’Etude et la Recherche Agronomiques, RD Congo
3 Département de Gestion des Ressources Naturelles, Université de Kinshasa, RD Congo
4 Filière d’Ecologie et Environnement Urbain, Université de Mbandaka, RD Congo
5 Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Tshikapa, RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2023 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
The city of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been marked for some years now by anarchic and ever-increasing urbanisation. This goes hand in hand with galloping demographic growth, which is increasing the pressure on urban green spaces. The resulting environmental impact is likely to increase in the years to come. Green spaces that were once considered a nuisance are now being given special attention, for the well-being of city dwellers. The aim of this study is to identify the benefits of the green spaces lining some of the public roads in the commune of Lemba. In order to carry out this study, a questionnaire was sent to users to gather their opinions on Lemba’s lined green spaces. This questionnaire was supplemented by direct observations in the field to assess the behaviour of the population with regard to these green spaces. The itinerant inventory method was used to identify the plant species present along five major public roads in the municipality under study. A total of 100 users of the green spaces were interviewed at random. The majority of these users were men (67%). Their main reasons for using the green spaces were to relax (33%), enjoy the shade (24%) and the peace and quiet (22%) at certain times of the day. According to these users, green spaces serve mainly to regulate the climate (19%) and beautify the city (17%). The lack of trees on certain roads to provide shade and the absence of public gardens to take advantage of their amenities led 93% of respondents to call for an increase in the number of trees in line and the creation of public gardens. Analysis of the floristic data shows that the tree stock in the Lemba commune’s green spaces includes 22 species divided into 21 genera and 16 botanical families. Nearly 73% of these species (16 species) are of exotic origin and nearly 55% of these plants (12 species) are reported to be edible. These results will enable the local political and administrative authorities to take these areas into account in the planning and development of the city, for the well-being of the population.
Author Keywords: Green space, urban, tree, Lemba, Kinshasa.
Abstract: (french)
La ville de Kinshasa, capitale de la République Démocratique du Congo est depuis quelques années, marquée par une urbanisation anarchique et sans cesse croissante. Celle-ci va de pair avec un accroissement démographique galopant qui accentue la pression sur les espaces verts urbains. Les impacts environnementaux qui en résultent, risquent de s’amplifier dans les années à venir. Les espaces verts jadis considérés comme gênant font aujourd’hui l’objet d’une attention particulière, pour le bien-être des citadins. La présente étude vise à recenser les bienfaits des espaces verts d’alignement de quelques voies publiques de la commune de Lemba. Ainsi pour mener à bien cette étude, un questionnaire a été adressé aux usagers en vue de recueillir leurs avis sur les espaces d’alignement de Lemba. Ce questionnaire a été complété avec des observations directes sur le terrain pour apprécier le comportement de la population à l’égard de ces espaces verts. La méthode d’inventaire itinérant a été utilisée pour identifier les espèces végétales présentes le long de cinq grandes voies publiques de la commune en étude. Au total, 100 usagers des espaces verts ont été interrogés de manière aléatoire. Ces usagers sont en majorité des hommes (67%). Ils fréquentent avant tout ces espaces verts pour se détendre (33%), bénéficier de l’ombrage (24%) et le calme (22%) durant certains moments de la journée. Selon ces usagers, les espaces verts servent principalement à la régulation du climat (19%) et à l’embellissement de la ville (17%). Le manque d’arbres sur certaines voies pour profiter de l’ombrage et l’absence de jardin public pour profiter de leurs aménités a amené 93 % des enquêtés à souhaiter l’augmentation des arbres d’alignement et la création de jardin public. L’analyse des données floristiques indique que le patrimoine arboré des espaces verts d’alignement de la commune de Lemba compte 22 espèces réparties en 21 genres et 16 familles botaniques. Une proportion de près de 73 % de ces espèces (16 espèces) est d’origine exotique et près de 55% de ces végétaux (12 espèces) est signalée comestible. Ces résultats permettront aux autorités politico-administratives locales de prendre en compte ces espaces dans la planification et le développement de la ville pour le bien-être de la population.
Author Keywords: Espace vert, urbain, arbre, Lemba, Kinshasa.
How to Cite this Article
Rebecca Mitshiabu Mudiayi, Michel Ndengoli Momangi, Isaac Kikuni Mubake, Nipha Ibunga Nkanga, and Guillaume Lusambu Anelk, “Users’ perceptions of the green spaces lining public roads in the commune of Lemba in the city of Kinshasa,” International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 493–504, August 2023.
