IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/endesu/v27y2025i1d10.1007_s10668-023-03898-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessment of public attitude towards green infrastructure and its predictors in urban areas of Ebonyi State, southeast Nigeria

Author

Listed:
  • Ifeanyi N. Chukwu

    (Alex Ekwueme Federal University)

  • Osita E. Uzonnah

    (Alex Ekwueme Federal University)

  • Francis O. Uzuegbunam

    (University of Nigeria)

  • Eziyi O. Ibem

    (University of Nigeria)

Abstract

Adequate knowledge of public attitudes towards green infrastructure (GI) is very important for effective planning, implementation, and management of urban greening programmes. Despite this, there is limited research on how the urban population evaluates GI leading to poor development and implementation of urban green infrastructure (UGI) programmes in sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigated public attitude towards GI in urban centres of Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey involving 513 participants was done in the study area, and the data were subjected to descriptive and categorical regression analyses. The survey shows that the frequency of public contact with GI varies and the primary reasons for contacting GI for 37.4%, and 20.7% of the respondents were to enjoy nature, fresh air, and relaxation, respectively. A positive attitude towards the value, knowledge, willingness to pay for GI, engagement in advocacy, and participation in learning, planning, managing, and protecting GI was reported among the respondents. The regression model produced R2 = 0.481 with the respondents’ marital status, age, frequency, and reasons for having contact with GI and level of education, length of stay in the location, and preferred forms of GI having the most significant influence on their attitude towards GI. One key lesson from this study for urban planners and managers in sub-Saharan Africa is that to understand public attitudes towards effective policy-making and successful planning and implementation of UGI programmes, and maximising their benefits, greater attention should be given to the factors identified in this research.

Suggested Citation

  • Ifeanyi N. Chukwu & Osita E. Uzonnah & Francis O. Uzuegbunam & Eziyi O. Ibem, 2025. "Assessment of public attitude towards green infrastructure and its predictors in urban areas of Ebonyi State, southeast Nigeria," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(1), pages 1097-1119, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s10668-023-03898-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-03898-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-023-03898-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10668-023-03898-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Krzysztof Herman & Łukasz Drozda, 2021. "Green Infrastructure in the Time of Social Distancing: Urban Policy and the Tactical Pandemic Urbanism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, February.
    2. Yang Yu & Hui Xu & Xiaohan Wang & Jiahong Wen & Shiqiang Du & Min Zhang & Qian Ke, 2019. "Residents’ Willingness to Participate in Green Infrastructure: Spatial Differences and Influence Factors in Shanghai, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-15, September.
    3. Adedotun Ayodele Dipeolu & Eziyi Offia Ibem & Joseph Akinlabi Fadamiro & Gabriel Fadairo, 2021. "Factors influencing residents’ attitude towards urban green infrastructure in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 6192-6214, April.
    4. Efrat Eilam & Tamar Trop, 2012. "Environmental Attitudes and Environmental Behavior—Which Is the Horse and Which Is the Cart?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(9), pages 1-37, September.
    5. Mojca Nastran & Marina Pintar & Špela Železnikar & Rozalija Cvejić, 2022. "Stakeholders’ Perceptions on the Role of Urban Green Infrastructure in Providing Ecosystem Services for Human Well-Being," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-14, February.
    6. Christopher Coutts & Micah Hahn, 2015. "Green Infrastructure, Ecosystem Services, and Human Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-31, August.
    7. Kumelachew Yeshitela, 2020. "Attitude and Perception of Residents towards the Benefits, Challenges and Quality of Neighborhood Parks in a Sub-Saharan Africa City," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-17, November.
    8. Charles A. Ogunbode & Laura Henn & Nicole Tausch, 2020. "Context-appropriate environmental attitude measurement in Nigeria using the Campbell paradigm," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 2141-2158, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Adedotun Ayodele Dipeolu & Eziyi Offia Ibem & Joseph Akinlabi Fadamiro & Gabriel Fadairo, 2021. "Factors influencing residents’ attitude towards urban green infrastructure in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 6192-6214, April.
    2. Marta Cholewa-Wiktor, 2021. "The Concept of Sustainable Development in the Curriculum of the Medical Universities in Poland," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 1), pages 72-86.
    3. Tingting Zhang & Dan He & Tian Kuang & Ke Chen, 2022. "Effect of Rural Human Settlement Environment around Nature Reserves on Farmers’ Well-Being: A Field Survey Based on 1002 Farmer Households around Six Nature Reserves in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-18, May.
    4. Shan Jin & Yasuhiro Matsuoka & Meng Yue & Glyn Jones & Lynn J. Frewer, 2024. "Does information about environmental considerations affect Chinese and UK consumers’ purchase intentions for traced foods? A path analysis," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(12), pages 32287-32318, December.
    5. Mketo, Ally Rajab & Ringo, Cliford J. & Nuhu, Said & Mpambije, Chakupewa Joseph, 2022. "Enhancing community participation for environmental health improvement in rural Tanzania: Evidence from Bukombe district," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    6. Alexandra Jane Crossley & Alessio Russo, 2022. "Has the Pandemic Altered Public Perception of How Local Green Spaces Affect Quality of Life in the United Kingdom?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-14, June.
    7. Beata Joanna Gawryszewska & Maciej Łepkowski & Łukasz Pietrych & Anna Wilczyńska & Piotr Archiciński, 2024. "The Structure of Beauty: Informal Green Spaces in Their Users’ Eyes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-19, February.
    8. Claudio Siminelli, 2017. "Consumer behaviours and attitudes towards a circular economy: Knowledge and culture as determinants in a four-market analysis," ECONOMICS AND POLICY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2017(1-2), pages 135-169.
    9. Chuanhui Liao & Hui Li, 2019. "Environmental Education, Knowledge, and High School Students’ Intention toward Separation of Solid Waste on Campus," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-15, May.
    10. Yipeng Ge & Shubo Chen & Yueshan Ma & Yitong Wang & Yafei Guo & Qizheng Gan, 2024. "Ecosystem Services and Public Perception of Green Infrastructure from the Perspective of Urban Parks: A Case Study of Luoyang City, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-25, September.
    11. Benjamin Guinaudeau & Mark Brink & Beat Schäffer & Martin A. Schlaepfer, 2023. "A Methodology for Quantifying the Spatial Distribution and Social Equity of Urban Green and Blue Spaces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-19, December.
    12. Antonios Kolimenakis & Alexandra D. Solomou & Nikolaos Proutsos & Evangelia V. Avramidou & Evangelia Korakaki & Georgios Karetsos & Georgios Maroulis & Eleftherios Papagiannis & Konstantinia Tsagkari, 2021. "The Socioeconomic Welfare of Urban Green Areas and Parks; A Literature Review of Available Evidence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-26, July.
    13. Joanna Jaroszewicz & Anna Majewska, 2021. "Group Spatial Preferences of Residential Locations—Simplified Method Based on Crowdsourced Spatial Data and MCDA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-24, April.
    14. Sang-Jun Park & Kyung-Tae Lee & Jin-Bin Im & Ju-Hyung Kim, 2022. "The Need for Smart Architecture Caused by the Impact of COVID-19 upon Architecture and City: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-20, June.
    15. Otavio Medeiros Sobrinho & Anderson Paulo Rudke & Marcos Vinicius Bueno de Morais & Leila Droprinchinski Martins, 2023. "Meteorological Effects of Green Infrastructure on a Developing Medium Latin American City: A Numerical Modeling Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.
    16. Jinghan Yuan & Hansong Zou & Kefan Xie & Maxim A. Dulebenets, 2021. "An Assessment of Social Distancing Obedience Behavior during the COVID-19 Post-Epidemic Period in China: A Cross-Sectional Survey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-16, July.
    17. Majewska, Anna & Denis, Małgorzata & Krzysztofik, Sylwia & Monika Maria, Cysek-Pawlak, 2022. "The development of small towns and towns of well-being: Current trends, 30 years after the change in the political system, based on the Warsaw suburban area," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    18. Huixin Wang & Jing Xie & Shixian Luo & Duy Thong Ta & Qian Wang & Jiao Zhang & Daer Su & Katsunori Furuya, 2023. "Exploring the Interplay between Landscape Planning and Human Well-Being: A Scientometric Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-24, June.
    19. Mara Ottoboni & Salvatore Eugenio Pappalardo & Massimo De Marchi & Fabrizio Ungaro, 2023. "Characterization and Mapping of Public and Private Green Areas in the Municipality of Forlì (NE Italy) Using High-Resolution Images," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, March.
    20. Diego Guidolin & Deanna Anderlini & Guido Maura & Manuela Marcoli & Pietro Cortelli & Giovanna Calandra-Buonaura & Amina S. Woods & Luigi F. Agnati, 2019. "A New Integrative Theory of Brain-Body-Ecosystem Medicine: From the Hippocratic Holistic View of Medicine to Our Modern Society," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-20, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s10668-023-03898-3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.