Abstract
A considerable area of land has been turned into a built surface in Ethiopia. Flooding is one of the destructive consequences of such land conversion in the urban centers of the country. Thus, this research aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of urban green infrastructures to alleviate the impacts of runoff in the urbanized part of Hawassa City, Ethiopia. The i-Tree Eco model with pre-stratified random sampling techniques was employed to analyze the hydrological benefits of green infrastructure by considering the vegetation structure and land surface cover variables. Also, the spatial map that shows annually avoided runoff was created using the spatial interpolation method in the ArcGIS software. The outcome of the model-based analysis shows that 576,224 trees were recorded, which contributes to cover 20.7% of the city’s total area. These trees intercepted 137,632.8 m3 year−1 rainwater and avoided 288,372 m3 year−1 runoff, economically valued at $ 680,558/year. However, the existing green infrastructures of the city had different performances in terms of water interception and runoff reduction efficiency, according to the morpho-functional characteristics of trees. Those green infrastructures with large trees, high leaf areas, and a high number of broadleaved trees were more efficient. Runoff reduction efficiency of the city could be maximized through the incorporation of adequate green infrastructure coverage at the urban planning stage and proper execution of structural plans. Hence, this research is expected to help planners and policymakers rethink the integration of green infrastructure in the spatial planning of cities and towns in Ethiopia.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Hawassa City administration, Hawassa University and the Addis Ababa University for the material supports and providing required facilities during the data collection and data analysis. Our gratitude also goes to Prof. Cristina Herrero-Jáuregui and the Complutense University of Madrid for hosting the corresponding author during the data analysis and report writing.
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Partial financial support was received from Hawassa University and Addis Ababa University to accomplish this work.
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The corresponding author, Tikabo Gebreyesus, conceptualized the research; devolved the methodology; analyzed the field collected and satellite image data; fund acquisition, and wrote the original draft of the manuscript. Cristina Herrero-Jáuregui and Aramde Fetene contributed in supervising the overall process, reviewing, and editing the manuscript. KumelachewYeshitela and Mesele Negash were also involved in the edition and reviewing of the overall frame of the paper at its proposal level. Finally, every author read and approved the submission of the manuscript for publication.
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Gebreyesus, T., Herrero-Jáuregui, C., Yeshitela, K. et al. Rethinking urban planning from the perspective of nature-based stormwater runoff management in Ethiopia. Landscape Ecol Eng 19, 597–616 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11355-023-00565-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11355-023-00565-7