Abstract
The city of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is currently experiencing unprecedented urban and peri-urban development, which is reflected in the degradation and loss of vegetation cover. There is a real need to conduct sociological studies on trees to help leaders in their decision-making. This research aims to analyze the perception of the population on the role of trees in the peri-urban area of the city of Kinshasa. The data were collected through a survey conducted in the Kinkole neighborhood, located in the eastern part of the city. A total of 321 residential plots were sampled between September and November 2017 to conduct semi-structured individual interviews. After compilation, the collected information was synchronized and then analyzed using Excel software to produce relative and absolute frequencies. The results obtained show that trees are primarily planted for economic, food, shade, and pharmacopoeia needs. The trees planted in the plots are mostly fruit trees, of which three species alone account for more than two-thirds of the planting. These are the mango tree (Mangifera indica) with 31.3% of trees planted, followed by the avocado tree (Persea americana) representing 31.1% of the plantation and then the safflower tree (Dacryodes edulis) representing 25.7%. The seedlings of these trees come mainly from consumed seeds. However, nearly half of the residents feel that they do not need to add other trees to their plots due to lack of space or property rights. These results reveal the urgency of promoting urban and peri-urban forestry through the development of a policy and strategies for the adequate management of peri-urban spaces in the city of Kinshasa. This is in order to improve the quality of life of the human population in order to face the current challenges related to the effects of climate change in urban and peri-urban areas.
Highlights
It is estimated that by 2050, humanity will experience an urban development of nearly 70% of all urban areas, with a sprawl of more than 90% in the cities of Asia and Africa [4]
Trees in the Peri-urban Environment of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo considerable ecological consequences, the most noticeable of which are the disappearance of emblematic green spaces in cities [8, 34]
In 2016, Kinshasa reached nearly 12,071,463 inhabitants, an increase of 61.6% compared to its population in 1960 (PopulationData.net)
Summary
It is estimated that by 2050, humanity will experience an urban development of nearly 70% of all urban areas, with a sprawl of more than 90% in the cities of Asia and Africa [4]. Trees in the Peri-urban Environment of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo considerable ecological consequences, the most noticeable of which are the disappearance of emblematic green spaces in cities [8, 34] This leads to spatial changes, characterized in particular by a new hierarchy of land use and natural resources [1, 20]. In 2016, Kinshasa reached nearly 12,071,463 inhabitants, an increase of 61.6% compared to its population in 1960 (PopulationData.net) This demographic growth translates into a rapid and anarchic spatial transformation of the urban space on the peri-urban spaces, formerly occupied by a vegetation cover [12, 15]. Due to the precarious living conditions that prevail in these environments, residents exert increased pressure on natural resources; trees are frequently cut down to produce wood energy, construction and other services for domestic and commercial purposes, the corollary of which is the degradation of the space [3]
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