Accessibility Of Urban Green Infrastructure In Koye Feche Sub City, Sheger City, Ethiopia

Abstract

Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) Plays A Vital Role In Enhancing The Resilience Of Cities By Addressing Challenges Such As The Urban Heat Island Effect, Flooding, And Air Pollution. However, In Koye Feche Sub-City, Rapid Urbanization And Increasing Population Density Have Significantly Reduced The Availability And Accessibility Of Green Spaces. This Study Aimed To Evaluate The Spatial Accessibility And Distribution Of Ugi Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing Techniques, And Social Surveys. Using Landsat 9 Sentinel-2 Satellite Imagery, Ugi Was Mapped Through Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (Ndvi) Analysis, With Vegetation Classified Into Three Levels: Level-1 (Ndvi 0.2???0.4) Indicating Sparse Vegetation, Level-2 (0.4???0.6) For Moderate Vegetation, And Level-3 (0.6???0.8+) Representing Dense And Healthy Vegetation. Results Revealed That Green Infrastructure Covers Only About 10% Of The Area, Predominantly In Agricultural Zones, With Higher Vegetation Levels Located On The Periphery And Limited Dense Vegetation Within Urban Centers. Survey Findings Indicated That The Lack Of Green Space Options, Long Distances, And Personal Physical Limitations Were Major Barriers To Ugi Access. Social And Economic Factors Such As Income, Ethnicity, And Gender Further Restricted Usage, With Over Half Of Respondents Reporting Inequality In Green Space Distribution. Additionally, While 35.4% Of Residents Found Information About Ugi Readily Accessible, 45.1% Indicated It Was Only Somewhat Accessible, Pointing To Communication Gaps. Transportation Challenges And Mixed Perceptions Of Public Policy Effectiveness Also Emerged As Key Issues. Although 28.3% Respondents Acknowledged Positive Government Actions, 49.6% A Significant Number Felt That Policies Had Not Improved Green Space Availability. While These Results Emphasize The Importance Of Greening And Developing Ugi In A Sustainable And Equitable Manner. Findings Indicate That Environmentally Friendly And Fair Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) Growth In Koye Feche Sub-City Requires Coordinated Land Use, Improved Policies, Improved Means Of Transport, And Effective Provision Of Information. The Research Can Serve As A Basis Source For Future Studies.