Landscape Perception of Urban Greenery in Residential Areas in Enugu Metropolis

Landscape perception in urban greenery focuses on how people perceive and evaluate spaces and these perception relates to benefits experienced. Natural landscapes are perceived as more visually appealing, more calming and restorative, and more conducive to relaxation and leisure activities. The contrasting urban greenery of Enugu metropolis is a result of complex interplay of residential area densities and social systems and continues to be depleted. This study aimed at assessing landscape perception in urban greenery in residential areas in Enugu metropolis as categorised into high, medium and low densities. This was achieved by determining how local residents value urban greenery and examining local residents preference of urban greenery as a development initiative. A total of 389 respondents in all three densities were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The results showed that urban greenery received higher residents’ prioritization ranking in low density areas than in medium and high densities. Notwithstanding, most of the surveyed respondents 84% knew of the benefits of trees while 11% thinks it is of no value and as low as 5% are ignorant of it’s benefits. The study recommends that indiscriminate falling of trees by the Enugu Electricity Distribution company should be checkmated, the few available open spaces in high density areas should be procured for afforestation, baseline data on urban greenery at community level should be captured.