Integrating Community Open Spaces Into Climate-Responsive Green Infrastructure Systems: Evidence From Semi-Arid Katsina, Nigeria

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and vegetation loss in semi-arid Nigerian cities have intensified the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, worsening thermal stress and climate vulnerability. While green infrastructure (GI) is increasingly recognized as a vital climate adaptation strategy, little research has explored how fragmented community open spaces can be integrated into cohesive urban green networks within Sahelian cities. This study investigates the role of community open spaces in strengthening climate resilience through an integrated GI framework in Katsina, Nigeria. Using a mixed-methods, multi-scalar approach, we combined remote sensing and GIS analysis with field-based surveys. Land Surface Temperature (LST), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and land use/land cover data derived from MODIS and Landsat imagery (1984–2024) were analyzed alongside household questionnaires (n = 832), key informant interviews, and field observations. Correlation and trend analyses examined the relationship between vegetation cover and urban thermal dynamics. The results reveal a strong inverse relationship between vegetation density and surface temperature; greened areas recorded temperature reductions of up to 4°C compared to densely built-up zones. However, the effectiveness of existing open spaces is severely constrained by spatial fragmentation, land encroachment, weak institutional coordination, and limited public awareness. To address these challenges, this study proposes a decentralized “Green-Linkage” framework. By reconnecting fragmented community open spaces into an integrated GI network, this model offers a scalable, community-driven strategy to enhance climate resilience in semi-arid African cities.