TY - CONF

T1 - Greening the Green City: Selection of fruit tree species in Kampala in public and private space.

AU - Arponen, Joukje

AU - Mollee, Eefke

AU - McDonald, Morag

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Kampala’s municipality plans to ‘regreen’ its city by planting 500,000 trees. If done well, this can help build climate resiliency and contribute to urban food security. This paper aims to create insights into how trees are valued by local communities in public and private space through scoring and ranking exercises. Fieldwork was conducted in Kampala, Uganda in May-June 2017. Data was collected through 35 semi-structured interviews and one focus group discussion. Preliminary results indicate a higher preference for fruit trees in private space (63%) than in public space (45%) (Fig. 1). A higher number of species was mentioned for public space, 35 versus 19. Aesthetic considerations were the main reason for not wanting more fruit trees in public spaces, followed by the concern that eating fruits from public trees is not permitted. Free seedlings, access to training, and the provision of tools, fertiliser and pesticides are effective incentives for residents to plant more trees in their homegardens. Data on rankings of ecosystem services is currently being analysed and will provide more insight into how the different services are valued by the respondents in public and private space. These results can support urban planners and policy makers when considering urban greening as well as urban food security in both the public and private spaces of Kampala. Since most land in Kampala is privately owned engaging with private land owners is crucial in tackling urban deforestation.

AB - Kampala’s municipality plans to ‘regreen’ its city by planting 500,000 trees. If done well, this can help build climate resiliency and contribute to urban food security. This paper aims to create insights into how trees are valued by local communities in public and private space through scoring and ranking exercises. Fieldwork was conducted in Kampala, Uganda in May-June 2017. Data was collected through 35 semi-structured interviews and one focus group discussion. Preliminary results indicate a higher preference for fruit trees in private space (63%) than in public space (45%) (Fig. 1). A higher number of species was mentioned for public space, 35 versus 19. Aesthetic considerations were the main reason for not wanting more fruit trees in public spaces, followed by the concern that eating fruits from public trees is not permitted. Free seedlings, access to training, and the provision of tools, fertiliser and pesticides are effective incentives for residents to plant more trees in their homegardens. Data on rankings of ecosystem services is currently being analysed and will provide more insight into how the different services are valued by the respondents in public and private space. These results can support urban planners and policy makers when considering urban greening as well as urban food security in both the public and private spaces of Kampala. Since most land in Kampala is privately owned engaging with private land owners is crucial in tackling urban deforestation.

M3 - Poster

ER -