Evaluating the Level of Greenness of Ethiopian Cities: The Case of Hawassa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Urban green spaces are increasingly recognized as essential components of sustainable urban development, playing a vital role in mitigating climate change, managing rapid urbanization, and enhancing the quality of urban life. As cities worldwide face mounting environmental and social challenges, effective strategies for integrating green spaces into urban planning have become critical. This research evaluates the overall greenness of Hawassa City by employing a quantitative analysis based on the Green Space Factor (GSF) tool. It is a flexible and innovative planning instrument designed to quantify the ecological and climatic functions of green spaces. The study focuses on all urban sub-cities of Hawassa, utilizing a new weighting factor developed from an analysis of seven cities that prioritize green space improvement to assess green coverage at multiple scales, including plots, blocks, kebeles, sub-cities, and the entire city. Analytical methods such as weighting factor analysis, the GSF method, hierarchical analysis, comparative analysis and land use analysis were applied to process diverse datasets. Findings indicate that Hawassa exhibits relatively satisfactory amount of green space at a GSF of 0.35, while approximately 72.99% of individual plots fall below the minimum standards. The results also underscore the spatial variability of green space distribution within Hawassa and highlight the need for targeted interventions. In light of these findings, the study recommends the adoption of the GSF tool within the city�۪s planning framework, alongside structural plan revisions and technological integration. Such measures will facilitate better monitoring, control, and optimization of urban green spaces, ultimately promoting a more resilient and sustainable urban environment.