Sociocultural and Ecological Dynamics of Green Spaces in Brazzaville (Congo)

Kimpouni, Victor; Nzila, Jean De Dieu; Watha-Ndoudy, Noël; Kokolo Bilongo, Elodie Charleine; Yallo Mouhamed, Salisou; Kampe, Jean-Pierre; Louembe, Dieudonné

doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3719267

International Journal of Ecology

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Abstract Introduction Materials Results Discussion Conclusion Appendix Conflicts of Interest References Copyright Related Articles

Research Article | Open Access

Volume 2020 | Article ID 3719267 | https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3719267

Sociocultural and Ecological Dynamics of Green Spaces in Brazzaville (Congo)

Victor Kimpouni,^1,2Jean De Dieu Nzila ,^1,2Noël Watha-Ndoudy,^2,3Elodie Charleine Kokolo Bilongo,¹Salisou Yallo Mouhamed,²Jean-Pierre Kampe,²and Dieudonné Louembe²

Academic Editor: Béla Tóthmérész

Received19 Jul 2019

Accepted09 Nov 2019

Published01 Mar 2020

Abstract

The study was conducted in Brazzaville, and data collection covers the period from May to June 2017. The methodology is based on literature review and floristic and equipment inventory. Nine green spaces spread over two out of nine townships in the capital city. Four are located in Bacongo and five in Poto-Poto. According to the classification standards, 5 squares and 4 gardens were studied. Except for one square, all the others, including the gardens, are planted with trees. The equipment inventory lists 183 benches, including 63.83% permanently and/or partially in the sun, 4 playgrounds, no games for children, and 3 cultural monuments. The flora and health of the trees stands shows 186 trees and 279 shrubs, all corresponding to 26 species. An examination of the health status reveals that 57% of trees show anthropogenic injuries. Floral analysis shows that exotic plants (76.92%) predominate over local plants (23.07%). The average basal area of trees in all green spaces is 1.95 m²·ha⁻¹. The diametric structure is erratic within all green spaces, with a dominance of large diameter subjects. This leads to poor natural regeneration of woody plants. The green spaces in Brazzaville, which are very unevenly distributed within the urban fabric, do not meet the international standards disseminated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and do not fully play their biodiversity conservation and recreational and ecological functions. History of green spaces in Brazzaville states that no creation was born after independence. The existing land has been reduced in size, and the new land has been used for other purposes.

1. Introduction

The term green space is not new, and Choay and Merlin [1] report that this term first appeared in 1925, coined by Forestier, park curator, Paris garden. It spread in the 1950s, when it designated open and unpaved areas [2].

The green space designates, commonly in an urban or suburban area, an area with vegetation, ranging from a simple square to a large park through road plantations. Green spaces embellish the environment of cities according to several modes such as social as a place of rest and walk within everyone’s reach; biological for the production of oxygen by trees and their contribution to the mitigation of several nuisances related to climate, and human health and economic benefits [3–6]. It should be noted that these designations meet criteria inherent to the area covered [7].

Areas of natural urban and periurban forests around the world are shrinking dramatically, and with them biodiversity is eroding [8]. Green spaces would be one of the ideal solutions to this phenomenon [9, 10]. In addition to biodiversity conservation, they would, as in other countries, be appropriate environments for environmental education, introducing the scientific popularization of ecological phenomena in which the tree interacts closely with its natural environment [11, 12]. Although they are vectors of pollution, the services rendered by trees through direct and indirect benefits are no longer to be demonstrated. The aspects cited as examples are air purification, dust retention, chemical air cleaners, noise pollution, soil protection, thermoregulation, climate regulation, and bio-geochemical cycle [4, 9, 13–16]. In the role of air pollution control and thermoregulator, Vergriete and Labrecque [17] show that plants and/or frequenting green spaces reduce the risks of certain ailments such as stress, respiratory infections, and migraines [18–23].

With the promulgation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Healthy Cities Programme [24, 25], the environment is considered a determining factor for the comfort, well being, and health of all. More and more, we are becoming aware of the fact that the environment in which the population lives is preponderant for its physical and moral balance. Among the means of improving this framework, green space is a very important component [26]. Indeed, green space is greatly valued for its contribution to the quality of life in the urban environment. Efforts to improve urban centres in developed countries have almost all been accompanied by attention to the creation, development, and use of green space [27].

In Africa, and more particularly in Congo, the place of the green space has never been the subject of real attention. Green spaces are unevenly distributed in the urban area, and postcolonial neighbourhoods are generally the most neglected [28]. There is also very little natural regeneration of these trees, most of which are senescent. Most species are ornamental and exotic [29]. Today, these nonfunctional and constantly degrading green spaces do not fulfil their primary vocation (ecological, biodiversity conservation, social, and recreational) and play only a derisory role [12].

More than half a century since the Congo gained independence, the urban plan of the city of Brazzaville has remained static on the development offer of green spaces and on the quality of life. The colonial period was marked by the creation of green spaces for an attractive, green, and relaxing urban living environment. This embellishment is based on the exploitation of the virtues of native and nonnative tree species [28, 29].

In the city of Brazzaville, the areas and facilities devoted to recreational green spaces are clearly insufficient and inadequate or even unsuitable for some. Since the 1960s, there has been a growing public interest in recreation and leisure. Rest after a working day and during holidays has become a necessity. Thus, offering the citizen an adequate framework for relaxation should be a permanent feature in any urban development plan.

The involvement of green spaces in the well being of the urban community of Brazzaville and the mitigation of the harmful effects of global climate change are the foundations of this study. The main objective of this study is to review the management of green spaces in Congo and particularly in Brazzaville, given that green spaces play an important recognized role in the conservation of biodiversity in general and plant diversity in particular and in the provision of goods and services to the population.

2. Materials and Method

2.1. Study Environment

Created in 1884, the city of Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, is located on the banks of the Congo River (Figure 1), in the south of the country between 04°04′S and 15°02′E [30] covering an area of 326.40 km² with an estimated population of 1,373,382 [31, 32]. Administratively, the Brazzaville autonomous department has 9 townships.

The climate in Brazzaville is humid tropical, with a rainy season from October to May, a dry season from June to September (Figure 2(a)), an average annual temperature of about 25°C, and an average annual rainfall of 1,400 mm [33, 34]. March, April, and November are the rainiest months and June, July, August, and September are the driest (Figure 2(a)). Relative humidity is particularly high, always above 70% (Figure 2(b)), with an absolute minimum in August and September and a relative minimum in February and March. The minimum varies between 50 and 60%, the maximum vary from 88 to 94%. Evaporation (Figure 2(b)) shows a relative maximum from February to March and an absolute maximum in August and September [35]. The average annual sunstroke varies between 1,700 and 2,000 hours. The insolation curve has two maxima from March to May and in November and minima from June to August (Figure 2(c)).

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(b)

(c)

2.2. Material

2.2.1. Study Material

The study material consists mainly of trees, shrubs, grasses, rest facilities, leisure facilities, and cultural monuments. The trees and shrubs were counted and identified, while the herbs were simply identified. The measurement of woody trees including the diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥10 cm at 1.30 m height is systematically carried out. It is noted concomitantly that the individuals present signs of anthropic aggression (removing the bark of the trees). In addition, all cultural facilities and monuments have been identified. Finally, the area of each green space is evaluated.

2.2.2. Classification and Nomenclature of Green Spaces

In urban or periurban areas, green spaces are vegetated areas whose typology is based on precise criteria based on the area covered [7, 36–38]. Thus, we distinguish the following different types of spaces:(i)Square: area less than 1 ha(ii)Proximity garden: area between 1 and 4 ha(iii)Urban park: area greater than 5 ha(iv)Periurban park: area greater than 100 ha

Parks often offer water supply points, afforestation beds, and ornamental trees, but also created spaces such as lawns. Their location shows a recreational, sports, or relaxation vocation, with the presence of playgrounds, sports equipment, and benches. However, a public garden and a square are small spaces. The public garden is designed as a place to relax, and a square is seen as a meeting place. According to WHO, at least 10 m² of green space in urban centres and 25 m² in periurban areas are recommended per inhabitant [38, 39].

According to this nomenclature, the city of Brazzaville has 5 squares (Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), Rotary Club Square (PR), Ministry of Mines (MM), Human Rights (DH) and Blanche Gomez (BG)) and 4 gardens (Pierre Savorgnon de Brazza (PSB), Prefecture Hotel (HP), Saint-Anne (SA), and Marien Ngouabi Museum (MMN)).

2.3. Study Method

The study method is based on literature data and inventory data from the various green spaces. The literature data made it possible to take stock of green spaces, in particular their characteristics and their standard.

The floristic inventory is based on the identification of all species in the green space, the counting and measurement of woody DBH (DBH ≥ 10 cm). The parameters monitored are frequency, density (number of individuals per unit area), DBH (diameter at breast height), basal area (ST), and anthropogenic effects.

The inventory of facilities concerns those intended for rest, leisure, historical, and/or cultural monuments present in each green space. The location of the benches in relation to the vegetation cover (under shade and/or exposed to the sun) was also taken into account.

2.4. Expression of Phytoecological Results

(i)Frequency: number of surveys where the taxon is present relative to the total number of surveys(ii)Shannon diversity index: with pi = ni/n (ni = number of individuals of species “i”; n = total number of individuals of all species)(iii)Maximum diversity index: with S = total species(iv)Equitability and/or regularity index (from Pielou): (v)Jaccard similarity coefficient (%) = 100 × (nc/(na + nb − nc)) with na = number of specimens from survey a; nb = number of specimens from survey b; and nc = number of specimens common to both surveys

3. Results

3.1. Location and Status of Green Spaces in Brazzaville

Green spaces currently cover a very small total area of almost 13 ha or 0.04% of the urban area of Brazzaville (Table 1). There were 9 green spaces located exclusively in two townships (Bacongo and Poto-Poto) while the city of Brazzaville comprises 9 townships. These green spaces are divided, according to the floristic facies, into 2 types: green areas with trees and green areas without trees (Table 1).

3.2. Floristic Diversity

3.2.1. Floral Composition

The inventory reveals 465 woody individuals corresponding to 22 species. They are divided into 142 trees representing 30.5% of the inventory or an average of 16 ± 3.7 trees per green space. As for the 323 shrubs, they account for 69.5% of all woody trees. This floral procession is composed of 6 native species (27.3%) and 12 nonnatives (72.7%). The centres of origin are Asia (36.36%); Africa and America with 22.73% each; and Australia and Madagascar with 9.09% per entity (Table 2).

3.2.2. Bioecological Indices

The similarity coefficient of Jaccard and woody flora, between green spaces varies from 0 to 41.66%. This data reveals that the floristic composition is very heterogeneous from one medium to another (Table 1). It would be the corollary of the invasion of the allochthonous flora in the urban arboriculture in Brazzaville.

The average Shannon biodiversity index for the 9 green spaces is 0.96 ± 0.14 (Table 1). The values range from 0.21 to 1.94. The maximum diversity achieved by these formations is 1.48 ± 0.13 on average, for an average range of 1.03 to 2.30. The Pielou index is 0.66 ± 0.06 on average, with a range of numbers oscillating from 0.13 to 0.85. On the whole, these data mark the paucispecific and paucifloristic characters of the mentioned green spaces.

3.3. Stand Structure Parameters

3.3.1. Frequency

Taxon frequencies vary from 1 to 8. Except for herbaceous plants such as Cynodon dactylon (66.7%) and Paspalum notatum (88.9%) which are almost omnipresent, woody plants remain discreet (Table 2). The species most represented in green spaces are Ficus benghalensis (77.8%) and Terminalia mantaly (44.4%). It is interesting to note the low representation of naturalized taxa such as Millettia laurentii (33.3%), Terminalia catappa, and Adansonia digitata with, respectively, 11.1%.

3.3.2. Density

Woody density in green spaces of at least 1 ha varies from 0.24 to 5.31 trees·ha⁻¹, with numbers ranging from 1 to 59 individuals per green space. The most represented species are: Ficus benghalensis with 10.60 trees·ha⁻¹ (49.10%); Millettia laurentii with 2.7 trees·ha⁻¹ (18.81%); Eucalyptus sp. with 1.31 trees·ha⁻¹ (9.13%); Millettia sp. with 0.77 trees·ha⁻¹ (5.37%); and Terminalia mantaly with 0.69 trees·ha⁻¹ (4.83%).

3.3.3. Tree Basal Area in the Green Spaces of Brazzaville

The projection of trunk sections on the ground per green space of at least 1 ha varies from 0.31 to 3.86 m²·ha⁻¹ (Figure 3). However, for those less than 1 ha, the value is between 0.26 and 5.25 m² per green space.

3.3.4. Diametric Structure of Trees in Brazzaville’ Green Spaces

The diametric structure of ligneous trees is declined in erratic curves, for all species, notwithstanding their status as aesthetic and key factor of the well being of the green space (Figure 4). This structure denotes a natural regeneration deficit and the ageing of the stand following (i) the nonreplacement of the elderly subjects and (ii) letting nature do its work.

3.4. Inventory of Equipment in the Green Spaces of Brazzaville

3.4.1. Benches and Location

The inventory shows 188 benches, an average of 20.89 ± 3.95 per green space. Depending on their location, 63.83% of the resting facilities are exposed to the sun all day long, compared with the tree crown. This rate corresponds to an average of 13 ± 3.33 benches per green space. However, 36.17% benefit, at least partially, from the shade of woody trees during the day, either 8 ± 1.7 benches per green space on average. (Figure 5).

3.4.2. Playgrounds and Historical Monuments

Only 4 of the 9 green spaces studied have some leisure facilities and historic monuments (Figure 6). The presence rates of leisure facilities (sports field and other games) per green space are as follows: 7.5% at Pierre Savorgnon De Brazza garden and 25% at the Faculty of Science and Technology square. Historical and/or cultural monuments represent 33.33%. Brazzaville green spaces are clearly underequipped and remain well away from international standards.

3.5. Tree Health in the Green Spaces of Brazzaville

Observation of the health of trees in green spaces in Brazzaville shows that the majority of them show tangible signs of human removing the bark of the trees. Overall, this inventory found that 57% of the 142 trees surveyed are barked. The aggression rates of the highest woody species are found in the Ministry of Mines square, Marien Ngouabi Museum garden, Pierre Savorgnon De Brazza garden, and Rotary Club square green spaces (Figure 7) where they vary between 40 and 84.6%. The species valued by this activity are those that depend on proven phytotherapeutic properties: Mangifera indica, Millettia laurentii, Peltophorum pterocarpum, Senna siamea, and Terminalia catappa.

3.6. Ratio of Green Spaces to Population

With a cover of 12.92 ha of green spaces and an estimated population of 1,373,382 inhabitants, the ratio of green space to population in the city of Brazzaville is 0.094 m²/individual. This result is well below the accepted value of 10 m²/individuals in urban areas. This is synonymous with a negative correlation between exponential urbanization and the installation of green spaces (Table 3). Thus, the green space needs expressed for the population of Brazzaville are currently estimated at 1,373.38 ha of green space, a deficit of 1,360.46 ha. The municipalities of Bacongo and Poto-Poto, which are the only ones with green spaces, need 98.78 and 93.11 ha of green spaces, respectively, with deficits of 93.91 and 85.06 ha of green spaces, respectively. The other communes, without green spaces, need 166.71 ha for Moungali; 182.99 ha for Ouenzé; 337.99 ha for Talangai, and 196.44 ha for Mfilou.

4. Discussion

4.1. Direct and Indirect Benefits Associated with Green Spaces

4.1.1. Green Spaces and Biodiversity

The floral analysis of green spaces in Brazzaville proves that these very paucispecific environments are also very poor floristically. This double weakness would correlate with the erosion of biodiversity caused by the drastic regression of natural urban and periurban forests [8, 40]. This degradation of green spaces in Brazzaville does not allow these entities to provide goods and services that are vested in them [4, 9, 13–16]. The preponderance of exotic species, especially shrubs, does not guarantee the conservation and enhancement of the local flora [40]. A comparison of the specific and floristic diversity of green spaces and periurban forests in Brazzaville shows that they are more diversified [8, 41–45]. However, most of their taxa are not present in green spaces. Considering that these green spaces have not been monitored, integrating the conservation dimensions of plant biodiversity, both local and exotic, and the extent of the area, since independence, it is difficult to make a decision on any correlation between these two parameters, despite some variations in the floristic composition.

4.1.2. Green Spaces and Quality of Life

The very low level of equipment, stricto sensu, of green spaces in Brazzaville coupled with the projection of sections of trunks on the ground, are elements that do not allow green spaces to fully play their ecological, environmental, and recreational functions [9, 12, 13, 17, 23, 46]. Under a hot and humid climate, the city of Brazzaville is unable to mitigate the impacts of climate change (climate variability and quasipermanent heat waves and persistence of parasitic and vector-borne diseases) and air pollution by suspended particles, greenhouse gases, and metallic trace elements. Facilities such as playgrounds and sports facilities are crossroads for people from different social backgrounds, ethnicities, races, and generations (from young children to the elderly). This cohabitation seals and reinforces the sense of community belonging of the populations [9, 12, 23, 47, 48].

4.1.3. Green Spaces and Health

The low representativeness of green spaces throughout the city of Brazzaville, and the absence of green spaces in several boroughs, force the populations to live enclosed in dwellings or plots that are, for the most part, poorly developed. Thus, the green spaces of the city of Brazzaville do not offer the city dwellers the ideal conditions for evacuating daily stress and mitigating the psychological effects associated with occupational turpitudes and vicissitudes, various ailments such as musculoskeletal disorders, respiratory problems and migraines [18–23]. If these green spaces covered a sufficient area, they would not only encourage the practice of collective games, thus socializing, would ward off the risks of obesity associated with sedentarization [24, 49–53]. This would reduce the budget devoted to health by the State and the population [4]. Optimizing the benefits of green spaces is to have them as close as possible to homes. Lessard and Boulfroy [54] estimate that a better response on quality of life and a marked reduction in medical care is achieved within a 500 m radius.

4.1.4. Combating the Effects of Climate Change

Global climate change affecting planet earth is not a marginal phenomenon in the Congolese context, as noted in the work of Bouka Biona and Mpounza [55], Samba and Nganga [33], and Samba et al. [34]. From these studies, the climatic impact is expressed in an increase in temperature and precipitation over almost the entire territory, despite some variations. Changing these two parameters inexorably affects biodiversity and with it the dynamics and functioning of ecosystems [56].

The vegetation cover of the green spaces of Brazzaville is very low to mitigate the effects of the urban heat island and pollution generated by the city, on the one hand [5, 6, 9, 16, 57, 58]. On the other hand, reducing carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions to combat global warming has become a global issue [9]. However, DBH is a very important parameter in the evaluation of carbon sequestered by trees via allometric equations. The higher the DBH, the more important the biomass, the more carbon sequestered the tree [6, 9, 59, 60]. At a time when the majority of trees in green spaces are senescent, their carbon sequestration power and/or capacity remain very limited.

Most of the trees in the green spaces of Brazzaville have modest DBH, they are stands that have aged, and have reached a point of equilibrium for carbon absorption. As stands approach maturity, growth rates and carbon uptake decrease [9, 61]. These trees, which currently require more maintenance energy than for their growth, are characterized by a very low carbon sequestration capacity.

Because of the long life of these trees and their relatively large dimensions, these trees are true carbon stores and not carbon sinks [60]. Currently with the obvious impoverishment of citizens, green spaces have become essential elements of the traditional phytotherapeutic system, sources of wood energy, and wood crafts [62]. The majority of trees is barked and has senescence cavities. The exploitation of these virtues exposes the internal organs to attacks by microorganisms (cryptogamic), the corollaries of which are decay and the release of carbon sequestered in the atmosphere [62–66]. Thus, the fight against global climate change is not really ensured by the green spaces in Brazzaville, because their contribution is rather noted as a source of carbon emissions.

4.2. Efforts to Be Made in the Creation of Green Spaces

Despite the benefits of green spaces, which are no longer to be demonstrated, Brazzaville does not take this dimension into account in its urban planning [4]. The clear proof is that not all boroughs, new or old, have green spaces or even a reserved area in the various master urban plans. This lack of interest is reflected in the existence of the same green spaces dating from colonial times, some of which have had varying fortunes. Unless they disappear like that of the Maya-Maya Airport, they see their surface area greatly reduced like the Schoelcher area [28, 67]. Despite the presence of the environmental, hygiene, and quality-of-life services that exist in the town halls, the green spaces in Brazzaville have remained a colonial fact, in the eyes of the city’s new managers. Indeed, we are far from meeting the internationally accepted standard of 10 m² of green space per citizen in urban areas and 25 m² in periurban areas [4, 7, 38, 39]. This observation also applies to the avenue and/or alignment trees, which together inspired the name “Brazza la verte.”

5. Conclusion

In the city of Brazzaville, the areas devoted to green spaces are very small. Thus, the green space/population ratio is almost zero, despite the international standard. The existing green spaces date from the colonial period and see their surface regressed, if they have not disappeared. Set up at a time when the city was born, all the green spaces are concentrated in the oldest townships of the city, although this one knew an important development during the last thirty years. This situation does not allow the entire population of Brazzaville to benefit directly or indirectly from green spaces. The need for green space is essential in urban areas, especially those with low incomes, as it helps to reduce health costs.

Brazzaville must develop and significantly increase the proportion of vegetated surface, taking into account the different needs of its population. Thus, urbanization policy should integrate the green space dimension for the well being of all, in order to meet the international standards of 21^st century urban cities. This policy will involve a rational and equitable rebalancing of local biodiversity conservation issues, environmental balances, recreational needs, and other associated values. Finally, our green spaces imperatively require developments oriented towards the replacement of all old trees with a preference for indigenous diversity on the other hand. This vision would lead the capital city to clearly fit into a policy to combat global climate change, by increasing carbon sequestration and improving the quality of life of urban and periurban populations.

Appendix

Overview of the green spaces revealing the location of the benches and the floristic deficit are shown in Figure 8.

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Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Copyright © 2020 Victor Kimpouni et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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