Assessing Ecosystem Services Using Spatial Mapping And Residents’ Perceptions Of Residential Neighbourhoods In Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Urban expansion in rapidly growing cities significantly alters residential landscapes, with implications for ecosystem service provision and human well-being. While ecosystem services have been widely studied, limited research integrates spatial assessment with residents’ perceptions at the neighbourhood scale in African cities. This study evaluates ecosystem services in residential neighbourhoods of Abuja, Nigeria, by combining geospatial analysis of green infrastructure with residents’ perceptions of ecosystem service provision and importance. An integrated quantitative multi-method approach was adopted, involving GIS-based land use/land cover classification derived from Landsat 8 imagery and a structured questionnaire survey of 398 residents across selected neighbourhoods in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Kuje Area Council. Ecosystem services were classified into provisioning, regulating, and cultural categories, and perception data were analysed using descriptive and comparative statistics. The results reveal significant spatial variation in green infrastructure distribution, corresponding with differences in perceived ecosystem service benefits across urban and peri-urban contexts. Regulating services, particularly microclimate regulation and air quality improvement, were rated most important in high-density urban areas, while provisioning services were more prominent in peri-urban neighbourhoods. Cultural services, including recreation and aesthetic value, were highly valued across both contexts. The study demonstrates that integrating spatial and perception-based assessments provides a more comprehensive understanding of ecosystem service provision in residential landscapes. It highlights the need for context-specific planning strategies that enhance multifunctional green infrastructure to support environmental resilience and improve quality of life in rapidly urbanising cities.