Next Article in Journal
The Spatiotemporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of the Ceramics Industry in Jingdezhen in the Last 40 Years
Next Article in Special Issue
Correction: Díaz-Diego et al. The Last Attempt at Land Reform in Spain: Application and Scope of the Andalusian Agrarian Reform, 1984–2011. Land 2023, 12, 683
Previous Article in Journal
Spatial Characteristics and Obstacle Factors of Cultivated Land Quality in an Intensive Agricultural Region of the North China Plain
Previous Article in Special Issue
The Perception of the Impact of Land-Use on Small and Large Cities by Tourists Using p2p Platforms
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Land
Volume 12
Issue 8
10.3390/land12081553
land-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles thumb_up
...
Endorse textsms
...
Comment
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Analysis for Selecting Suitable Areas for Urban Green Spaces in Abomey-Calavi District, Southern Benin

by
Abdel A. Osseni
1,
Hubert O. Dossou-Yovo
2,*,
François G. H. Gbesso
1 and
Brice Sinsin
2
1
Horticultural Research and Management of Green Spaces Unit, Laboratory of Plant, Horticultural and Forest Sciences, School of Horticulture and Management of Green Spaces, National University of Agriculture, Ketou P.O. Box 43, Benin
2
Faculty of Agronomic Sciences (FSA), Laboratory of Applied Ecology, University of Abomey-Calavi, Godomey P.O. Box 1974, Benin
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Land 2023, 12(8), 1553; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081553
Submission received: 28 June 2023 / Revised: 12 July 2023 / Accepted: 26 July 2023 / Published: 5 August 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land-Use Planning in Borderlands and Ultra-Peripheral Regions)
Browse Figures
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

:
Green spaces contribute to a significant improvement in quality of life and maintain the sustainability of cities. In Benin, despite the political willingness regarding greening, municipalities are experiencing technical issues in finding suitable spaces to achieve this goal. This study should therefore be applicable to many other towns in Benin. It aims at identifying suitable areas for green spaces to integrate landscaping into urban planning in Abomey-Calavi district. Multi-criteria analysis combining GIS and the hierarchical classification approach was performed. Six factors (land use, altitude, slope, distance from main roads, proximity to urban centres and distance from flood zones, water bodies) were combined using the ArcGIS “Spatial Analysis” extension to generate a map of green space suitability. The results show large areas of land, of which 23.27% is very suitable and 26.06% is suitable for landscaping in this municipality. The ranking of the factors revealed that elevation, proximity to road networks, large conurbations and distance from wetlands accounted for 18%, compared with 14% for the other factors regarding the study environment. However, the use of these results must take into account the existing inhabited areas for a good site selection. These outputs provide guidance for decision-makers in choosing suitable sites for green spaces and integrating them into sustainable development.

1. Introduction

Green spaces are known today as infrastructures that contribute significantly to the well-being of urban populations and to maintaining the sustainable development of cities [1]. Nowadays, green spaces are urban planning instruments aiming to beautify the city and improve people’s quality of life [2]. They are therefore developed and managed with the aim of providing urban and peri-urban populations with local places for relaxation and recreation, comfort, enjoyment and psychological support [3]. At the same time, they help to maintain ecosystem functions such as the sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere via various tree organs [4]. The renewal of oxygen in the air and the regulation of humidity [5], the control of soil water erosion [6] and the enhancement of thermal comfort [7] are other environmental functions that are recognised in green spaces. Regarding the diversity of services provided by plants, especially in urban and peri-urban environments, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations recommends a minimum of 10 m2 of green space per inhabitant, and recommends going beyond this in sustainable development programmes [8]. Aware of this challenge, which guarantees a balance between nature and people, many countries are developing strategies and making sufficient efforts to green their cities [9]. This is the case in developed countries, where urban forestry is integrated into land-use planning as a priority [10]. On the other hand, this conventional standard of 10 m2 of green space per inhabitant is far from being achieved and receives little attention in the urban planning of some areas, particularly in developing countries [11].
This is the case in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi in southern Benin, which, despite being a fully developed town with special status for more than a decade, is struggling to provide the green spaces needed to create an ideal environment and living conditions for its inhabitants. In its current state, the population of Abomey-Calavi district is constantly growing as a result of the urbanisation created by the city of Cotonou on the western coast of Benin [12]. With an intercensal growth rate of 6.93% between 2002 and 2013, the municipality of Abomey-Calavi has a demographic weight of 46.9% in the Atlantique department [13], and is one of the most densely populated towns in Benin [14]. Despite this demographic feature and the existence of an urbanisation plan, this area has only four public green spaces, with a surface area of approximately 8.08 ha, representing 0.015% of the district’s surface area, for a ratio of 0.06 m2 of green space per inhabitant [15]. These alarming socio-environmental disparities, which are linked to both land availability and the district urbanisation and sustainable development policy [11], are likely to worsen in the absence of scientific attention.
Appropriate spatial planning and environmental management tools therefore need to be considered in order to guarantee conditions of well-being for a city’s population. Although the global population is expanding very quickly, there is a limited amount of land, meaning that planning requires the application of GIS as a sustainable development tool (https://urbandesignlab.in/gis-as-a-tool-for-urban-planning/; accessed on 11 July 2023). One of the potential city management tools is therefore multi-criteria analysis based on GIS, appearing to be a relevant approach for identifying suitable sites for the installation of green spaces [16]. In fact, this approach is used to solve the problem of choosing suitable sites for the installation of socio-cultural and environmental infrastructures [17,18]. More specifically, in the field of sustainable green space planning and development, the combination of GIS and hierarchical multicriteria analysis has proved very effective in the selection of appropriate areas, indicating the implication of GIS in novel city planning [19,20,21], and sometimes for the ecological monitoring of green spaces [22]. So, there is evidence of various investigations carried out by using GIS and hierarchical multicriteria analysis to propose sites suitable for the installation of green spaces in urbanised areas. However, no specific study using this approach has yet been carried out to identify a soil suitability map for the sustainable development of green spaces in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi.
It was to fill this gap and to provide a technical and scientific basis that could be used by many cities that this study was initiated, with the aim of identifying areas suitable for the installation of green spaces with a view to integrating landscaping into urban planning in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi in Benin. As a town with special status, Abomey-Calavi will benefit greatly from the results of this study, which will serve as a basis for reflection for decision-makers and communities involved in the local development of this municipality and other towns that have already been subdivided and even those in the process of being subdivided, in the context of Benin’s land policy, which is focused on the subdivision of all of the country’s districts.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study Area

The district of Abomey-Calavi is located in the Atlantique department of Benin Republic in the West African region. It lies between 6°22′ and 6°30′ north latitude and between 2°15′ and 2°22′ east longitude (Figure 1). It is bounded to the north by the district of Zè, to the south by the sea, to the east by the districts of Cotonou and So-Ava and to the west by the cities of Ouidah and Tori-Bossito. It covers an area of 539 km2. The population is estimated at 656,358, including 332,784 women [13]. It comprises nine (09) subdistricts: Abomey-Calavi, Akassato, Godomey, Golo-Djigbé, Hèvié, Kpanroun, Ouèdo, Togba and Zinvié. Abomey-Calavi district has a sub-equatorial climate, with four seasons: a long rainy season (April to July); a short rainy season (September to November); a long dry season (December to March); and a short dry season (August to September). The relief is relatively flat, consisting of sandy plains and bare soil plateaus, interspersed with depressions and swamps [23]. The dominant social groups in the district are Aïzo and Fon. However, the Goun, Nago, Toffin, Yoruba and others are also found in this area. The main economic activities are agriculture, fishing, the processing of agricultural products, livestock farming, industry, trade, crafts and tourism.

2.2. Data Collection Dealing with the Identification of Appropriate Green Space Areas

Several sources of information were used to determine the environmental and social factors favourable for the installation and sustainability of green spaces in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi. This information is divided into two categories:
-
Standards related to the installation of green spaces to optimise their ecosystem services and minimise their negative impacts on the environment [24]. This information was obtained from the literature review and refers to spatial data.
-
Public opinion in terms of accessibility to green spaces [21], which was obtained through discussion with a focus group. This focus group served as a panel to obtain from the inhabitants their understanding of the conditions leading to green space installation for potential use. To obtain relevant information during these types of discussions, it is recommended that the number of participants varies between 4 and 12 [25]. In this study, two residents who use green spaces, two leaders of environmental protection NGOs, and two representatives of development associations were chosen for the focus group. This represents six people selected per subdistrict, i.e., 54 people across 9 subdistricts. They were selected on the basis of their experience in promoting and managing green spaces and their analytical skills.
This approach made it possible to collect appropriate data for determining suitable sites for the installation of green spaces according to the socio-environmental context of the district of Abomey-Calavi. Information regarding these data is presented in Table 1 below.

2.3. Suitability Processing and Analysis Method

There are several methods of suitability analysis (suitability analyst) in planning and based on Geographic Information Systems. Overlaying with summing spatial layers according to weights is the most widely used method [26]. The main steps followed for its implementation are:
-
The definition of the main objective, leading to the identification of green spaces in the study area,
-
The identification and description of suitable factors in the environment, the combination of which enables the objective to be achieved effectively,
-
The overlapping of the maps according to the weight of their factors to obtain a new suitability map,
-
The assessment of the weight of each factor using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method,
-
The drawing up and analysis of the suitability map for use in planning decisions.
Each of these steps can be clearly developed as reported below.

2.3.1. Definition of the Main Objective Leading the Identification of Green Spaces in the Study Area

The studied system was the sustainable development of green spaces. The aim of the study was to identify suitable areas for the installation of green spaces, with a perspective of integrating landscaping into urban planning of the town of Abomey-Calavi in Benin.

2.3.2. Identification and Description of Suitable Factors of which Combination Effectively Meets the Objective

Various studies have been carried out on identifying suitable sites for green spaces, combining environmental and social factors in the hierarchical multi-criteria analysis process [21,24,27]. In such an approach, the number of factors and the resulting criteria vary according to the theme and the study area [28]. In the field of planning, certain factors are very specifically determined in relation to the geographical position and spatial organisation of the area that is predisposed to hosting green spaces [21]. Consequently, more than a dozen factors have been listed and used differently in previous studies in the field [24,27].
In the framework of this study, scientific standards from the literature, combined with the opinion of the local population, made it possible to select six of these factors for the district of Abomey-Calavi. These were land use, elevation, slope, distance from main roads, distance from flood zones and swamps, and proximity to built-up areas (agglomerations) or urban centres. As reported above, these factors are relevant since they are drivers related to the geography and spatial organisation of the study area. Moreover, regarding the description of these factors, it has been shown that in the hierarchisation of the criteria of the land use factor, it is the areas of settlements and spaces that shelter vegetation cover that are the sites which are favourable for the installation of green spaces, while marshy areas and bodies of water are not appropriate [29,30]. In terms of geomorphology, low-slope areas have been indicated as being suitable for the installation of green spaces [31,32], but these low slopes will need to be on higher ground [30,33,34]. As for the accessibility of green spaces, roads play a decisive role, which means that they have to be taken into account in the analysis criteria. In fact, numerous studies have shown that the further one moves away from main roads, the less accessible green spaces become [35,36,37]. The same applies to urban centres, which have a real need for green spaces to ensure the well-being of city dwellers. The opposite assessment is made when it comes to prioritising flood-prone or marshy areas. The works of [31,38] showed that flood zones and marshlands are less suitable for the installation of green spaces. However, as one gradually moves away from them, the land may become suitable for hosting sustainable green spaces.

2.3.3. Overlapping of Maps According to the Weight of Their Factors to Obtain a New Suitability Map

GIS was used to produce the suitability maps, and the multi-criteria analysis was performed to identify sites suitable for the installation of green spaces. In order to draw up the various criteria maps, it was necessary to standardise the data on the factors selected to bring them in line with assessment standards. This step is a kind of reclassification of the suitable criteria. Each factor was therefore broken down according to the ability and constraint criteria used to assess them. According to [39], five classes of assessment criteria are recommended for environmental factors related to land use, namely very suitable, suitable, not very suitable, not very suitable and not suitable. All vector data were converted into a raster, reclassified and coded from 1 to 5. A value of 5 represents a high rating, while a value of 1 indicates a low rating.

2.3.4. Assessment of the Weight of each Factor Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)

Based on the fact that not all factors have the same importance [40], the factors were weighted using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) defined by [41]. This consisted of comparing the criteria two by two in terms of relative importance in relation to the defined objective using a scale developed by [42]. The weight resulting from the comparison of each pair of factors was then determined in order to test the consistency of the importance attributed to each factor.
To achieve this, a binary comparison matrix was drawn up between drivers, for which a weight was assigned according to their importance. The weights attributed to the factors were based on a good knowledge of the field and the standards for installing sustainable green spaces.
The consistency index (CI) is defined by the following equation:
C I = λ m a x − n n − 1
where λmax is the maximum eigenvalue of each factor in the matrix array and n is the size of the matrix
Then, the consistency ratio (CR), which represents the ratio between the consistency index (CI) and a random consistency index (RI), was calculated to indicate the reliability of the matrix’s judgements. Its value had to be be less than 0.1 to confirm the consistency of the matrix [42]. The consistency ratio (CR) is defined by the following equation:
  C R = C I R I

2.3.5. Processing of Suitability Map for Planning Decisions

The suitability map for the installation of green spaces in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi was generated using the algebraic function “Spatial Analysis Tool”, developed as an extension to ArcMap. This is a general modelling method based on the suitability map equation [21,43]. We computed the total suitability as follows:
  S = ∑ W i   ∗   X i
where S is the total suitability score for green space installation; Wi is the weight of the selected suitability criteria layer; and Xi is the assigned sub criteria score of suitability criteria layer i.

3. Results

This section presents the selection and prioritisation of green space installation criteria. Then, the weighting and aggregation of the criteria are presented, and finally the suitability map for the installation of green spaces in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi is presented and analysed.

3.1. Selection of Factors and Ranking of Criteria for the Installation of Green Spaces

On the basis of descriptions in the literature and the realities of the study area, in particular the opinion of the local population, six factors were selected in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi, the combination of which makes it possible to generate an aptitude map of sites suitable for the installation of green spaces. The ranking criteria for each of these factors are presented in Table 2.

3.2. Factor Maps Used for the Selection of Suitable Areas of Green Spaces in the Municipality of Abomey-Calavi

The suitability of land use for green spaces is shown in Figure 2, which presents the land use map (a) and the suitability map (b) of each land use unit for green spaces in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi. It can be seen that bodies of water and marshy areas are unsuitable for green spaces, while cultivated areas are moderately suitable. The most suitable sites for this initiative are inhabited areas or built-up areas and areas with plant formations.
Elevation in the district of Abomey-Calavi varies from −32 m to 72 m (Figure 3a), and this make it possible to distinguish several types of relief. Zones at elevations between 0 and 20 m are made up of marshy depressions and bodies of water, while zones at elevations of between 20 and 42 m are the most densely populated. As for the areas above 42 m, they are elevated, inhabited and mostly covered in vegetation. According to field observations, confirmed by the literature, the land is flat or not very uneven in the inhabited areas and offers the possibility of human settlements, and is therefore favourable for the development of green spaces. From Figure 3b, we can deduce that the altitudes favourable for the installation of green spaces in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi are between 15 and 50 m, while above 50 m, the space shows strong suitability if the land does not present slopes.
The slope factor, which sometimes depends on the altitude in a region, is a determining factor in ensuring the stability of infrastructure. In the district of Abomey-Calavi, although slopes vary from 0 to 89%, most of the land is flat. Areas of low slope are located in marshy depressions, while steep slopes are found to the east of the municipality, on the banks of Lake Nokoué (Figure 4a). The slope suitability map (Figure 4b) shows two main categories of slope: areas of low slope (0 to 5%), which occupy almost all of the district’s territory, while areas of high slope (greater than 5%) are minimal.
Figure 5a below shows the distribution of flood-prone areas and water bodies in the district of Abomey-Calavi. On the whole, a few permanent bodies of water are visible and located to the east and south of the district. Flood-prone areas, on the other hand, are numerous and fairly well distributed throughout the municipality, and are more concentrated in the centre, south-west and north-west. They often result from the accumulation of surface water directed by the slopes from high to low altitudes. The suitability map linked to distance from flood zones (Figure 5b) indicates that the further away you are from these zones, the more favourable the terrain becomes for the installation of green spaces, especially from 750 m upwards.
The road network is an important factor in the accessibility of socio-community infrastructures in general and green spaces in particular. In the district of Abomey-Calavi, the roads are divided into main and secondary roads (Figure 6a). According to the local population, the closer the green spaces are to the roads, the more people will use them. The suitability map in Figure 6b shows that green spaces located within 300, 600 and 900 m of roads will be the most popular, while those located beyond this distance will be less popular.
According to informants, facilities that are far from urban centres or conurbations are seldom used, or are used only when necessary. So, people’s motivation to use public green spaces depends on their proximity, and is highest when they are within a radius of 500 m. As this distance increases, the motivation to use public green spaces diminishes, and disappears beyond 2000 m (Figure 7a,b).

3.3. Weighting of Criteria according to the Analytic Hierarchy Process

The weighting by binary comparison of the judgements made by the experts on the factors for the installation of green spaces in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi (Table 3) made it possible to determine the value or weight associated with each factor. It can be seen that for the factors of elevation, distance from wetlands, proximity to roads and proximity to built-up areas (agglomerations), each contributes to an equal consistency index of 18%, while the factors of land use and slope contribute to a consistency index of 14%. The resulting consistency ratio is 0.03. This is lower than the reference index of 0.1. As a result, the logic of the judgements is consistent and acceptable, as stressed in the methods. All the sites with these factors and the resulting optimum criteria are therefore better suited to hosting sustainable green space developments.

3.4. Suitability Map Analysis for Planning Decisions

Overall, the district of Abomey-Calavi is well suited to the installation of public green spaces. According to the criteria defined, 23.27% of the surface area of this municipality is very suitable and located in densely populated areas at medium altitudes. The next most suitable areas cover 26.06% of the area. The majority of these areas are located in the centre and are distributed in a linear fashion from the south to the north-west and then to the west of the municipality (Figure 8). Unsuitable areas account for 21.92% of the land area, most of which are located on the slopes and depressions. Apart from these exploitable sites, the rest of the area, i.e., 21.11% of the district, is only slightly suitable, and 7.62% is unsuitable.
At the end of this process, all the geolocated points on the suitability map were checked in accordance with the realities through filed works.

4. Discussion

Using the Geographic Information System (GIS) and a multi-criteria hierarchical approach, this study identified the main factors for drawing up a suitability map for the installation of green spaces in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi, a town that has already been almost entirely developed. This method is based on the superposition by means of summation of spatial layers according to their weights [26]. The weight of each factor is determined through a binary comparison of the criteria for prioritising the factors on the basis of a prioritisation scale [41]. It has been used successfully in various fields [17,44], and more specifically in the field of green space management [21]. Indeed, it takes into account the weight of each factor on the judgements of actors or stakeholders, evaluating and minimising the inconsistencies linked to their choice [45]. In the context of this study, the approach made it possible to minimise the subjectivity of the weightings of factors [46] and to realise the need to take them into account as a stakeholder requirement for the use of green spaces. This confirms the recommendations of [24] on the importance of seeking consistency in the criteria for selecting sites for green spaces. From the point of view of implications, the method used, although hybrid [18], has both a robustness and a flexibility [47] that allow it to be tested in another socio-environmental context and on larger territories to objectively identify suitable spaces for the implementation of urbanisation, tourism and sustainable development projects.
In terms of results, the suitability map obtained indicates that the sites suitable for the installation of green spaces are located on inhabited land and at altitude, covering approximately 49.33% of the surface area of the municipality. This demonstrates the strength of the approach used to identify suitable sites for the sustainable installation of green spaces [24]. However, for good decision-making, other development parameters such as the allotment plan and the availability of land and administrative reserves must be taken into account [48], which could help to refine site choices. Although large areas have been shown to be suitable for the installation of sustainable green spaces, very few green spaces exist in this district. This is indicative of the low priority given to green infrastructure by decision-makers [11]. Given that green infrastructure has been recognised as an essential component in the well-being of city dwellers [10], it would be important to take account of the results of this study in the city’s spatial planning. However, it is necessary to fall back on spaces available in the public domain in order to limit the relocation of populations. Similar to our GIS-based approach, ref. [49] identified green spaces in the city of Cukurova in Turkey that facilitate recreation, picnics and rest areas for the population of the city and the surrounding area. In the same country, and more specifically in the town of Kutahya, ref. [16] used GIS analysis, while ref. [27] looked at the town of Pendik, using the same methodological approach to identify areas suitable for the creation of green spaces accessible to citizens. These various examples demonstrate the importance of considering cities separately within the same nation when identifying areas suitable for the establishment of green spaces.
The current distribution of sites suitable for green spaces has been guided by the weight given to each factor. Thus, the eigenvectors resulting from the binary comparison of the weights of the priority factors in the analysis are 18%, while the other factors have a weight of 14%. This means that some factors are more important than others according to the stakeholders [50]. Similar to our research, Gelan [24] used the reference value (0.1) of the consistency index to select suitable green space areas in an emerging town of Ethiopia. Morever, Anteneh et al. [51] used the same approach in the geospatial assessment of urban green spaces. However, the implementation of any management plan based on the present results must take account of inhabited areas to avoid affecting people, but also, and above all, the choice of species with carbon sequestration potential such as Terminalia superba (Combretaceae), which creates quite remarkable shade through its tiered crown and is used in many other African countries for this purpose (https://uses.plantnet-project.org/e/index.php?title=Terminalia_superba_(PROTA)&mobileaction=toggle_view_desktop; accessed on 1 May 2023). Many other criteria relating to the choice of species should be taken into consideration.

5. Conclusions

This study used GIS and the AHP approach to determine the spatial distribution of sites suitable for the installation of green spaces in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi in southern Benin. The main results indicate that there is a strong dependence between the sites suitable for the installation of sustainable green spaces and environmental factors. The combination of these factors made it possible to identify large areas of land (around 49.33%) that are very suitable or suitable for this purpose in this district. Some of these factors, such as altitude, proximity to road networks and larges conurbations, and distance from wetlands, appear to be priorities in terms of greening of the study area. These results highlight the importance of the role of spatial components and socio-cultural considerations in the development of sustainable green spaces. In addition, the study revealed that the combination of two methodological approaches can contribute to making coherent choices for reliable territorial and municipal decisions. Regarding Benin’s land policy, which focuses on the subdivision of various districts and sustainable tourism development, with a perspective related to greening large-scale areas, the establishment of a hierarchy of factors based on the typology of green spaces can be undertaken. This will no doubt lead to the identification of suitable sites. The authors recommend that these results serve not only to Abomey-Calavi district council but also to the Benin Ministry in charge of land management and local development. In addition, these outputs provide better guidance to various towns on the importance of conducting similar investigations for sustainable green development. The ecological monitoring as well as conservation of green spaces after their implantation are required to achieve a sustainability.
The limitation of this research is that it considers only one district in southern Benin instead of taking into account a large area containing several cities, including the Nokoué river environment, for a more global greening approach, which we would undertake if we received the required funding. Moreover, although the consistency index and ratio served to indicate suitable green space areas in this paper, the skills of practitioners who will be in charge of such installations are quite important for the appropriate selection of the recorded sites. Future studies should take into account the five cities (Cotonou, Ouidah, Abomey-Calavi, Sémé-Podji, Porto-Novo) comprising the Great Nokoué area, as well as the climatic variations in this region in relation to the dynamics and coverage of green spaces. This area is a region of remarkable socio-economic importance in Benin. Research studies based on various models of architectural design are required as well as ethnobotanical investigations in local populations to inventory native plant species that they would prefer in green spaces, as well their perception of and willingness to contribute to the conservation of such spaces.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, data collection, data analysis, article writing and its correction, A.A.O., H.O.D.-Y. and F.G.H.G.; Supervision, editing and validation before submission, B.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

No funding was received in the framework of this research.

Data Availability Statement

Data supporting the writing of this article are shown throughout tables and figures and are also available from the authors.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the informants who took part in this research project. They are also thankful to the reviewers whose comments helped to improve this paper.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest regarding this research article.

References

  1. Calaza, P.; Cariñanos, P.; Escobedo, F.J.; Schwab, J.; Tovar, G. Bâtir une infrastructure verte et des paysages urbains. Unasylva FAO 2018, 69, 11–21. [Google Scholar]
  2. Girma, Y.; Terefe, H.; Pauleit, S.; Kindu, M. Urban green infrastructure planning in Ethiopia: The case of emerging towns of Oromia special zone surrounding Finfinne. J. Urban Manag. 2019, 8, 75–88. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Barthel, S.; Folke, C.; Colding, J. Social–ecological memory in urban gardens—Retaining the capacity for management of ecosystem services. Glob. Environ. Change 2010, 20, 255–265. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. Kouadio, Y.J.C.; Vroh, B.T.A.; Bi, Z.B.G.; Yao, C.Y.A.; N’guessan, K.E. Évaluation de la diversité et estimation de la biomasse des arbres d’alignement des communes du Plateau et de Cocody (Abidjan—Côte d’Ivoire). J. Appl. Biosci. 2016, 97, 9141–9151. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  5. Kenney, W.A.; Wassenaer, P.J.E.; van Satel, A.L. Criteria and Indicators for Strategic Urban Forest Planning and Management. Arboric. Urban For. AUF 2011, 37, 108–117. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  6. Fuwape, J.A.; Onyekwelu, J.C. Urban Forest Development in West Africa: Benefits and Challenges. J. Biodivers. Ecol. Sci. 2011, 1, 77. [Google Scholar]
  7. Livesley, S.J.; McPherson, G.M.; Calfapietra, C. The Urban Forest and Ecosystem Services: Impacts on Urban Water, Heat, and Pollution Cycles at the Tree, Street, and City Scale. J. Environ. Qual. 2016, 45, 119–124. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  8. Salbitano, F.; Borelli, S.; Conigliaro, M.; Chen, Y. Directives sur la Foresterie Urbaine et Périurbaine; Étude FAO: Forêts; FAO: Rome, Italy, 2017; ISBN 978-92-5-130074-9. [Google Scholar]
  9. Cilliers, S.; Cilliers, J.; Lubbe, R.; Siebert, S. Ecosystem services of urban green spaces in African countries—Perspectives and challenges. Urban Ecosyst. 2013, 16, 681–702. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Mili, M.; Boutabba, H.; Boutabba, S.-D. La nature urbaine: Dégradation quantitative et qualitative des espaces verts urbains, cas de la ville steppique de M’Sila, Algérie. Urbe Rev. Bras. Gest. Urbana 2019, 11. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  11. Sehoun, L.C.; Osseni, A.A.; Orounladji, M.; Lougbegnon, T.O.; Codjia, J.C.T. Diversité floristique des formations végétales urbaines au Sud du Bénin (Afrique de l’Ouest). Rev. Marocaine Sci. Agron. Vét. 2021, 9. Available online: https://agrimaroc.org/index.php/Actes_IAVH2/article/view/959 (accessed on 1 May 2023).
  12. Dossou, O.V. Contribution de L’évaluation Environnementale Stratégique a L’aménagement du Territoire: Cas du Plan Directeur D’aménagement du Plateau D’abomey-Calavi (République du Bénin). Ph.D. Thesis, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, Benin, 2005. [Google Scholar]
  13. INSAE. Effectifs de la Population des Villages et Quartiers de Ville du Bénin (RGPH-4, 2013); Institut National de la Statistique et de L’analyse Economique (INSAE): Cotonou, Benin, 2016. [Google Scholar]
  14. Dossou-Yovo, H.O.; Vodouhè, F.G.; Kaplan, A.; Sinsin, B. Application of Ethnobotanical Indices in the Utilization of Five Medicinal Herbaceous Plant Species in Benin, West Africa. Diversity 2022, 14, 612. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  15. Amontcha, A.M.; Djego, J.G.; Imorou, I.T.; Sinsin, B.A. Phyto-diversite et utilisations des espaces verts prives dans les villes du grand Nokoue (Sud-Benin). J. Rech. Sci. L’Université Lomé 2017, 19, 117–139. [Google Scholar]
  16. Cetin, M. Using GIS analysis to assess urban green space in terms of accessibility: Case study in Kutahya. Int. J. Sustain. Dev. World Ecol. 2015, 22, 420–424. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  17. Olayiwola, A.; Suleiman, U. Site Suitability Analysis for Landfill in an Industrial Area in Nigeria. J. Environ. Geogr. 2022, 15, 1–10. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Ozsahin, E.; Ozdes, M.; Smith, A.C.; Yang, D. Remote Sensing and GIS-Based Suitability Mapping of Termite Habitat in the African Savanna: A Case Study of the Lowveld in Kruger National Park. Land 2022, 11, 803. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Abebe, W.T.; Endalie, D. Artificial intelligence models for prediction of monthly rainfall without climatic data for meteorological stations in Ethiopia. J. Big Data 2023, 10, 2. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Cakir, S.; Hecht, R.; Krellenberg, K. Sensitivity analysis in multi-criteria evaluation of the suitability of urban green spaces for recreational activities. AGILE GIScience Ser. 2021, 2, 22. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Linh, N.H.K.; Tung, P.G.; Chuong, H.V.; Ngoc, N.B.; Phuong, T.T. The Application of Geographical Information Systems and the Analytic Hierarchy Process in Selecting Sustainable Areas for Urban Green Spaces: A Case Study in Hue City, Vietnam. Climate 2022, 10, 82. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  22. Lotfata, A. Using Remote Sensing in Monitoring the Urban Green Spaces: A Case Study in Qorveh, Iran. Eur. J. Environ. Earth Sci. 2021, 2, 11–15. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  23. Groupement ECOPLAN/Triomphe Afrique Group. Plan de Développement Communal Troisième Génération de la Commune d’Abomey-Calavi PDC3 2018–2022; PDC-Abomey-Calavi Mairie d’Abomey-Calavi: Abomey-Calavi, Benin, 2017; 318p. [Google Scholar]
  24. Gelan, E. GIS-based multi-criteria analysis for sustainable urban green spaces planning in emerging towns of Ethiopia: The case of Sululta town. Environ. Syst. Res. 2021, 10, 13. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Stalmeijer, R.E.; Mcnaughton, N.; Van Mook, W.N.K.A. Using focus groups in medical education research: AMEE Guide No. 91. Med. Teach. 2014, 36, 923–939. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Kacem, L.; Agoussine, M.; Igmoullan, M.; Amar, H.; Mockhtari, S.; Ait Brahim, Y. Application de la méthode d’analyse multicritère hiérarchique pour la quantification de perte en sol dans un sous-bassin montagnard -haute vallée de Tifnoute (Haut Atlas marocain). Geo-Eco-Trop 2017, 41, 493–502. [Google Scholar]
  27. Ustaoglu, E.; Aydınoglu, A.C. Site suitability analysis for green space development of Pendik district (Turkey). Urban For. Urban Green. 2020, 47, 126542. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Nguyen, T.T.M.; Nguyen, H.T.T.; Doan, T.; Tri, D.Q. Application Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP) in Setting up Local Community Urban Environmental Quality of Life Index in a Developed Metropolitan Area in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Curr. Urban Stud. 2021, 9, 376–391. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  29. Dağıstanlı, C.; Turan, İ.D.; Dengiz, O. Evaluation of the suitability of sites for outdoor recreation using a multi-criteria assessment model. Arab. J. Geosci. 2018, 11, 492. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  30. Li, Z.; Fan, Z.; Shen, S. Urban Green Space Suitability Evaluation Based on the AHP-CV Combined Weight Method: A Case Study of Fuping County, China. Sustainability 2018, 10, 2656. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  31. Piran, H.; Maleknia, R.; Akbari, H.; Soosani, J.; Karami, O. Site selection for local forest park using analytic hierarchy process and geographic information system (case study: Badreh County). Int. J. Sci. Basic Appl. Res. 2013, 6, 930–935. [Google Scholar]
  32. Mahdavi, A.; Niknejad, M. Site suitability evaluation for ecotourism using MCDM methods and GIS: Case study—Lorestan province, Iran. J. Biodivers. Environ. Sci. 2014, 4, 425–437. [Google Scholar]
  33. Shahabi, H.; Hashim, M. Landslide susceptibility mapping using GIS-based statistical models and Remote sensing data in tropical environment. Sci. Rep. 2015, 5, 9899. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  34. Mahmoud, A.H.A.; El-Sayed, M.A. Development of sustainable urban green areas in Egyptian new cities: The case of El-Sadat City. Landsc. Urban Plan. 2011, 101, 157–170. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  35. Bunruamkaew, K.; Murayam, Y. Site Suitability Evaluation for Ecotourism Using GIS & AHP: A Case Study of Surat Thani Province, Thailand. Procedia Soc. Behav. Sci. 2011, 21, 269–278. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  36. Kienast, F.; Degenhardt, B.; Weilenmann, B.; Wäger, Y.; Buchecker, M. GIS-assisted mapping of landscape suitability for nearby recreation. Landsc. Urban Plan. 2012, 105, 385–399. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  37. Morckel, V. Using suitability analysis to select and prioritize naturalization efforts in legacy cities: An example from Flint, Michigan. Urban For. Amp Urban Green. 2017, 27, 343–351. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  38. Peng, J.; Ma, J.; Du, Y.; Zhang, L.; Hu, X. Ecological suitability evaluation for mountainous area development based on conceptual model of landscape structure, function, and dynamics. Ecol. Indic. 2016, 61, 500–511. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  39. Jahn, R.; Blume, H.P.; Asio, V.; Spaargaren, O.; Schád, P. FAO Guidelines for Soil Description; FAO: Rome, Italy, 2006. [Google Scholar]
  40. Adimi, O.S.C.; Oloukoi, J.; Tohozin, C.A.B. Analyse spatiale multicritère et identification des sols propices à la production du maïs à Ouessè au Bénin. VertigO Rev. Électronique En Sci. Environ. 2018. Available online: http://journals.openedition.org/vertigo/19885 (accessed on 1 May 2023). [CrossRef]
  41. Saaty, T.L. Decision making with the analytic hierarchy process. Int. J. Serv. Sci. 2008, 1, 83–98. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  42. Saaty, T.L. A scaling method for priorities in hierarchical structures. J. Math. Psychol. 1977, 15, 234–281. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  43. Malczewski, J.; Rinner, C. Exploring multicriteria decision strategies in GIS with linguistic quantifiers: A case study of residential quality evaluation. J. Geogr. Syst. 2005, 7, 249–268. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  44. Ramos, A.; Cunha, L.; Cunha, P. Application de la Méthode de l’Analyse Multicritère Hiérarchique à l’étude des glissements de terrain dans la région littorale du centre du Portugal: Figueira da Foz—Nazaré. Geo-Eco-Trop 2014, 38, 33–44. [Google Scholar]
  45. El Jazouli, A.; Barakat, A.; Khellouk, R. GIS-multicriteria evaluation using AHP for landslide susceptibility mapping in Oum Er Rbia high basin (Morocco). Geoenviron. Disasters 2019, 6, 3. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  46. Zhou, S.; Chen, G.; Fang, L.; Nie, Y. GIS-Based Integration of Subjective and Objective Weighting Methods for Regional Landslides Susceptibility Mapping. Sustainability 2016, 8, 334. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  47. Yan, F.; Zhang, Q.; Ye, S.; Ren, B. A novel hybrid approach for landslide susceptibility mapping integrating analytical hierarchy process and normalized frequency ratio methods with the cloud model. Geomorphology 2019, 327, 170–187. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  48. Zannou, S.; Fangnon, B.; Doussou-Guedegbe, O. Urbanisation et problématique de gestion de l’espace dans l’arrondissement de Dangbo au Bénin. In Mélange en L’hommage au Professeur Emérite N’BESSA D. Bénoît; Université d’Abomey-Calavi: Abomey-Calavi, Benin, 2018; pp. 7–23. ISBN 978-99919-79-99-1. [Google Scholar]
  49. Adigüzel, F.; Doğan, M. Analysis of Sufficiency and Accessibility of Active Green Areas in Cukurova. Kastamonu Univ. J. Eng. Sci. 2020, 6, 95–106. [Google Scholar]
  50. Toro, J.; Duarte, O.; Requena, I.; Zamorano, M. Determining Vulnerability Importance in Environmental Impact Assessment: The case of Colombia. Environ. Impact Assess. Rev. 2012, 32, 107–117. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  51. Anteneh, M.B.; Damte, D.S.; Abate, S.G.; Gedefaw, A.A. Geospatial assessment of urban green space using multi-criteria decision analysis in Debre Markos City, Ethiopia. Environ. Syst. Res. 2023, 12, 7. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Land 12 01553 g001
Figure 1. Location of Benin in West Africa and Abomey-Calavi district in Benin.
Figure 1. Location of Benin in West Africa and Abomey-Calavi district in Benin.
Land 12 01553 g001
Land 12 01553 g002
Figure 2. Land use map (a) and its reclassification, meaning the grouping of various factor classes (b).
Figure 2. Land use map (a) and its reclassification, meaning the grouping of various factor classes (b).
Land 12 01553 g002
Land 12 01553 g003
Figure 3. Elevation map (a) and its reclassification (b).
Figure 3. Elevation map (a) and its reclassification (b).
Land 12 01553 g003
Land 12 01553 g004
Figure 4. Slope map (a) and its reclassification (b).
Figure 4. Slope map (a) and its reclassification (b).
Land 12 01553 g004
Land 12 01553 g005
Figure 5. Flood-proneness map (a) and its reclassification (b).
Figure 5. Flood-proneness map (a) and its reclassification (b).
Land 12 01553 g005
Land 12 01553 g006
Figure 6. Road map (a) and its reclassification (b).
Figure 6. Road map (a) and its reclassification (b).
Land 12 01553 g006
Land 12 01553 g007
Figure 7. Built-up map (a) and its reclassification (b).
Figure 7. Built-up map (a) and its reclassification (b).
Land 12 01553 g007
Land 12 01553 g008
Figure 8. Suitable areas map for urban green spaces in Abomey-Calavi district.
Figure 8. Suitable areas map for urban green spaces in Abomey-Calavi district.
Land 12 01553 g008
Table 1. Types of data, sources and usefulness for identifying suitable sites.
Table 1. Types of data, sources and usefulness for identifying suitable sites.
Type of DataSourcesUtility
Landsat Image OLI, 2023United States Geological Studies (USGS)
https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/; accessed on 1 May 2023.		Land cover/Land use,
Distance from flood-prone, Proximity to roads and built-up
Digital Elevation Model SRTM: Shutle Radar Topography Mission, 2000USGS: https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/; accessed on 1 May 2023.Elevation and slope
Road networkTopographic Map, Benin Survey (IGN Bénin), 2018Distance to main roads
Population and expert opinionsField work (Focus group), April 2023Identification of local populations’ expectations of green spaces and ranking of important criteria
Technical and scientific reportsAppropriate websitesLiterature review on indicators and experts opinions according to suitable areas of green spaces
Source: Data collection work, 2023.
Table 2. Description and classification of analysis criteria of selected factors supporting suitable green spaces in Abomey-Calavi district.
Table 2. Description and classification of analysis criteria of selected factors supporting suitable green spaces in Abomey-Calavi district.
FactorsDescription of CriteriaPrioritisationAssessment
Land useAgglomeration5Highly suitable
Vegetation4Suitable
Field and fallow3Moderately suitable
Flood-prone area2Poorly suitable
Water body1Unsuitable
Elevation <0 m1Unsuitable
0–15 m2Poorly suitable
15–30 m3Moderately suitable
30–50 m4Suitable
>50 m5Highly suitable
Slope0–5%5Highly suitable
5–10%4Suitable
10–15%3Moderately suitable
15–20%2Poorly suitable
>20%1Unsuitable
Distance from flood-prone areas0–250 m1Unsuitable
250–500 m2Poorly suitable
500–750 m3Moderately suitable
750–1000 m4Suitable
>1000 m5Highly suitable
Proximity to roads0–300 m5Highly suitable
300–600 m4Suitable
600–900 m3Moderately suitable
900–1200 m2Poorly suitable
>1200 1Unsuitable
Proximity to built-up areas0–500 m5Highly suitable
500–1000 m4Suitable
1000–1500 m3Moderately suitable
1500–2000 m2Poorly suitable
>2000 m1Unsuitable
Source: Field work, 2023.
Table 3. Binary comparison and eigenvectors of the factors used to analyse the identification of sites suitable for green spaces in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi.
Table 3. Binary comparison and eigenvectors of the factors used to analyse the identification of sites suitable for green spaces in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi.
CriterionLand UseElevationSlopeDistance from Flood-ProneProximity to RoadsProximity to Built-Up
Land use0.140.140.140.140.140.14
Elevation0.180.180.180.180.180.18
Slope0.140.140.140.140.140.14
Distance from flood-prone0.180.180.180.180.180.18
Proximity to roads0.180.180.180.180.180.18
Proximity to built-up0.180.180.180.180.180.18
Eigenvectors (%)14%18%14%18%18%18%
Source: Field works, 2023.
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Osseni, A.A.; Dossou-Yovo, H.O.; Gbesso, F.G.H.; Sinsin, B. GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Analysis for Selecting Suitable Areas for Urban Green Spaces in Abomey-Calavi District, Southern Benin. Land 2023, 12, 1553. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081553

AMA Style

Osseni AA, Dossou-Yovo HO, Gbesso FGH, Sinsin B. GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Analysis for Selecting Suitable Areas for Urban Green Spaces in Abomey-Calavi District, Southern Benin. Land. 2023; 12(8):1553. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081553

Chicago/Turabian Style

Osseni, Abdel A., Hubert O. Dossou-Yovo, François G. H. Gbesso, and Brice Sinsin. 2023. "GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Analysis for Selecting Suitable Areas for Urban Green Spaces in Abomey-Calavi District, Southern Benin" Land 12, no. 8: 1553. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081553

APA Style

Osseni, A. A., Dossou-Yovo, H. O., Gbesso, F. G. H., & Sinsin, B. (2023). GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Analysis for Selecting Suitable Areas for Urban Green Spaces in Abomey-Calavi District, Southern Benin. Land, 12(8), 1553. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081553

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop