Abstract
This study focuses on the management of municipal green spaces
and their contributions to the sustainable development of the municipalities of
Yaoundé 2 and 3. It analyzes the problem of centralized management of
these green spaces by the urban community of Yaoundé (CUY). This
centralized management leads to certain problems related to the development,
the aesthetics and pollution of the municipal green spaces of Yaoundé 2
and 3. The main objective of the study is to study the management of the
municipal green spaces of Yaoundé 2 and 3 to determine whether it
contributes to the promotion of sustainable development of the two
municipalities. From there, three specific objectives were formulated: to study
the management of the municipal green spaces of Yaoundé 2 and 3 in order
to determine whether it contributes to the promotion of the sustainable
development of the two municipalities; determine the conditions for the
creation and development of the municipal green spaces of Yaoundé 2 and
3 in order to establish whether their establishment partially compensates for
the extension of buildings and infrastructures to the detriment of the natural
forest of the municipalities studied; Analyze the logics of actors and their
management strategies and adaptations in the promotion of sustainable
development through the municipal green spaces of Yaoundé 2 and 3;
Present the implications of the management and services provided by the
municipal green spaces of Yaoundé 2 and 3 by the CUY.
The methodology for collecting the data consisted of
conducting semi-structured interviews at the CUY Gardens and Green Spaces
Directorate, conducting interviews with users in the EVMY, and administering
survey questionnaires; Botanical surveys were carried out on two municipal
green spaces in two municipalities: the Holy Anastasia Wood (3.4 ha)
(Yaoundé 2) and the annex of the Charles Atangana Wood (1ha) (cemetery
side) and diachronic analyses were also performed on three dates (1990, 2000
and 2020).
Diachronic analyses show a regression of the afforestation
rate of -35.92% for an annual average rate of expansion of -1.55% for the
municipality of Yaoundé 3 and over the same period, there is also a
regression of the afforestation rate of -52.25% in the municipality of
Yaoundé 2. These regressions are the consequences of the very strong
extension of the built and the infrastructures which represent respectively
97,64% and 180.65% for the municipalities of Yaoundé 2 and 3. The
calculation of the green space/inhabitant ratios revealed that the municipal
green spaces of Yaoundé 2 provide a ratio of 1.35m² of green space
per inhabitant. On the other hand, the municipal green spaces of Yaoundé
3 provide a ratio of 1.5m² of green space per capita. These ratios are
well below the one recommended by UN-Habitat (minimum 9m² of green space/
inhabitant). Based on the threshold of at least 800m² of wooded space per
1000hbts recommended by the Cameroon Forest Law of 1994, the municipalities of
Yaoundé 2 and 3 provide respectively 618.6m² and 742.6m² of
wooded space/ 1000hbts. Which is close to the recommended threshold. The
shortcomings in municipal green spaces of Yaoundé implement adaptation
strategies of direct actors (CUY) and indirect (visitors/ users) that are not
without consequences on the attraction of municipal green spaces of the two
municipalities. However, the study demonstrated the contributions on
sustainable development in Yaoundé 2 and 3 of these green spaces.
However, decentralized management (applied management) could allow a more
rational, equitable and sustainable management of municipal green spaces of
Yaoundé 2 and 3.
Keywords: municipal green spaces,
Yaoundé 2, Yaoundé 3, sustainable development, Applied
Management
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