Urban Green Infrastructure Development as Perceived by Urban Household in Chittagong City of Bangladesh
Md. Kamrul Islam *
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh.
Kishwar Jahan Chowdhury
Department of Environmental Science and Disaster Management, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali 3814, Bangladesh.
Mohammad Shafiul Alam
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: Along with different initiatives in public and private sectors Chittagong city dwellers are also contributing to increasing urban greenery. This study was aimed to find their perception and contribution to urban greenery development.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Chittagong city of Bangladesh in four different residential areas between May 2019 and June 2019.
Methodology: We have surveyed 100 respondent families who were selected through purposive random sampling. After sorting we have used MS excel 2010 to analyze the data.
Results: The study revealed that household people covered 13.04% of the total household area by greener infrastructure which is about 179.07sq.ft per household. In this study it is found that 49.99% of the respondents practice indoor plantation, 62.44% have roof-top gardening where only 17.61% have gardens in their premises. 128 species have been in their household area of which 36 flowerings, 33 fruits 36 vegetables, 12 medicinal additionally 11 are ornamental plant species. It has also revealed in the study that 14% house-hold directly uses the roof where 86% use containers for their rooftop garden. They use compost manure, inorganic fertilizer, and food waste as manure. Where 6% prefer composting, 73% is food waste and 21% use inorganic fertilizer. According to 27% of people, the environmental benefits derived from the household greenery are the main reason for developing their garden where 26% claimed it for recreation, 24% for aesthetic and 13% for the religious benefit and only 10% do it for monetary benefit.
Conclusion: Household people can be an important catalyst for “Urban green infrastructure development.” Hope this study will be an expedient caseworker on the way of planning for sustainable Chittagong city development which will embed the Environment and Urbanism in a frame of ‘Sustainable Urban Development’.
Keywords: Urbanization, environment, sustainability, households, green infrastructure.