Temporal Dynamics of Urban Green Space Transformation in Katsina, Northern Nigeria: From Pre-colonial to Post-colonial Eras

The primary aim of this study was to assess the changes occurring in urban green spaces (UGSs) within the Katsina urban area. It employed an ex-post factor methods approach, which involved conducting interviews with key informants, organizing focus group discussions, making field observations and reviewing historical documents. Descriptive method was employed to analyze the collected data. The findings of this study revealed that UGSs have been preserved for hundreds of years and have served various purposes. However, UGSs have experienced series of changes due to various factors, including urban spatial expansion, population growth, changes in environmental and physical conditions, social and economic transformations, and political and administrative change. Essentially, this study suggests that traditional institutions in the pre-colonial period respected and preserved UGSs as sacred places, utilizing them for their socio-cultural and economic benefits. However, during the colonial era, UGSs were preserved and promoted to serve the interests of the colonialists. Following the independence of Nigeria in 1960 and the establishment of Katsina state in 1987, there was an unprecedented decrease in UGSs. It is therefore recommended that urban development policies in Katsina prioritize the restoration, protection, and sustainable management of urban green spaces through strengthened institutional frameworks, community participation, and integration of traditional conservation values into modern planning practices.