Abstract:
The main objective of the study was to explore practices and challenges of urban greening in Gulele sub-city. Addis Ababa. Descriptive survey research design was employed. The study employed mixed methods approaches in which both quantitative data and qualitative were combined and integrated. In order to collect data, researcher used questionnaire, interviews and observation. Questionnaires were distributed to 32 experts and 236 households. In addition to this, 3 senior experts of the Gulele sub city were interviewed. To analyze the data, frequency, percentage, mean score and standard deviation were utilized. The current practice of urban greening in Gulele sub-city of Addis Ababa was rated average level. With respect to the importance of urban greening, majority respondents were confirmed that urban greening is highly important. However the awareness of all concerned body in the study area was at low level in order to realize the urban greening scheme along the sub-city. The challenges that can impede the implementation of urban greening were giving less value to urban greening, lack of coordination and poor communication across district of sub-city, Inadequate training and development for the employees, bureaucratic obstacle to make real of the plan, budgetary limitations for protection of greener areas in the district and lack of management support and resource allocation were the common at study area. The role and support of government was at fair level and the monitoring and follow up of the government officials about to sustain urban greening in sub city was rated as occasionally exhibited. Thus, to improve the situation, urban greening should be beyond the common trends of operating routine activities since increasing global temperature and enhancement of environmental degradation. There should be different schemes of awareness creation and training and development for stakeholders on the importance of urban greening in general and ecological value, economical aspects and recreational and aesthetic value of urban greening in particular. The governments, private institution and various NGO should work together on minimizing challenges of urban greening in Gulele sub-city of Addis Ababa in order to realize the global mission of having ever green city. There should be serious follow up and monitoring of government on urban greening and also some enforcement having documents such as policy documents, guide lines and the like
