Enhancing Connectivity and Reducing Fragmentation of Institutional Green Spaces for Sustainable Urban Development in Yeka Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Abstract
Urban green spaces are essential for biodiversity, ecological stability, and climate resilience, yet rapid urban growth often fragments these areas. This research assesses how well institutional green spaces are connected in Yeka Sub-City, Addis Ababa, using several landscape metrics: the Integral Index of Connectivity (IIC), Delta Connectivity (ΔI), Class Coincidence Probability (CCP), and Landscape Coincidence Probability (LCP). Results reveal moderate connectivity among institutional green parcels but indicate significant fragmentation at the broader city scale. A CCP of 0.1274 shows that institutional green spaces have limited connections internally, whereas an LCP of 0.05524 highlights poor integration within the surrounding urban fabric. Key green areas—particularly Menelik II Hospital, the Italian Embassy, and the French Embassy—emerge as crucial stepping-stones, since removing them substantially reduces overall connectivity. To tackle these fragmentation issues, the study recommends strategic interventions, such as creating green corridors, tree-lined avenues, protected urban belts, mandatory green coverage policies, and controlled semi-public access to institutional properties. By providing evidence-based insights into improving connectivity, this paper supports informed urban planning decisions aimed at boosting environmental sustainability and resilience. Future studies should include long-term monitoring and ecological modelling to better understand the changing urban green dynamics and enhance Addis Ababa’s institutional green networks.
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