Spatio-temporal dynamics of urban green spaces in the Buealimbeurban Corridor, Cameroon (1995-2025): Drivers and implications for sustainable development

Abstract

This study examines the spatio-temporal dynamics of urban green spaces in Buea and Limbe between 1995 and 2025. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining remote sensing analysis using Landsat 5 and Landsat 8 imagery with GIS-based land use/land cover (LULC) classification, alongside field surveys comprising household questionnaires and key informant interviews. It evaluates changes in formal green spaces, informal green spaces, farmlands, and built-up areas, and assesses their implications for sustainable urban development. Findings indicate a pronounced decline in informal green spaces, largely driven by population growth and urban expansion, accompanied by a substantial increase in built-up areas and only marginal incorporation of formal green spaces into urban planning frameworks. These transformations have contributed to environmental and social challenges, including increased flooding, intensification of urban heat islands, loss of recreational spaces, adverse health outcomes, rising stress-related conditions, and a decline in landscape aesthetics. The results further revealed that the rapid conversion of natural vegetation is not matched by adequate investment in formal green infrastructure, particularly within public spaces. The study therefore underscores the urgent need for integrated urban planning approaches that prioritize the conservation of natural vegetation and the systematic incorporation of green infrastructure to enhance ecological resilience and social well-being in rapidly urbanizing contexts.