Evaluation of Green Spaces and Tree Canopy Coverage in Kaduna Urban Residential Neighbourhoods

Urban green spaces and tree canopy coverage provide critical ecosystem services including thermal comfort regulation, stormwater management, air quality improvement, and mental health benefits, and their distribution in Nigerian urban areas is poorly documented at the neighbourhood scale. This study evaluates the quantity, distribution, and condition of green spaces and tree canopy coverage across six residential neighbourhoods in Kaduna, representing high, medium, and low-income residential typologies. Satellite imagery analysis using Google Earth imagery from 2023 was conducted to calculate green space coverage ratios and canopy cover percentages for each neighbourhood. Field surveys verified satellite analysis results and documented tree species, canopy condition, and ownership status. Resident surveys administered to one hundred and eighty households collected data on green space usage patterns, perceived benefits, and management responsibilities. Results show that high-income Government Reserved Area neighbourhoods enjoy green space coverage of eighteen percent and tree canopy coverage of twenty-two percent, compared to eight percent and nine percent respectively in low-income high-density settlements. The disparity reflects differential maintenance investment and original planning provision. Trees on public road reserves are poorly managed in all neighbourhood types, with significant crown damage from inappropriate utility line pruning. Over seventy percent of surveyed residents in medium and low-income areas cited inability to use public green spaces due to poor maintenance, encroachment, or safety concerns. The study calls for an equitable urban greening strategy for Kaduna guided by minimum green space standards applied to all new residential development approvals. Keywords: green spaces, tree canopy, urban ecology, Kaduna, residential neighbourhoods.