With rapid urban growth posing major environmental and social challenges, nature-based solutions (NbS) are at the heart of urban strategies for sustainability and resilience. They help to maintain biodiversity and respond to contemporary climatic and societal challenges. To be best planned and implemented, they need to consider geographical and socio-cultural contexts, including the local perceptions and experiences of residents. Lack of information on social aspects and absence of data are often obstacles to implementation. This article is part of a study on the challenges and opportunities of implementing nature-based solutions for sustainable urban development in Ouagadougou. This study aimed to explore how socio-demographic factors influence perceptions and experiences of urban nature, and to identify implications for urban planning and the implementation of nature-based solutions. Questionnaire surveys were conducted among 401 people, with different socio-demographic profiles and different places of residence. Group interviews with 20 people were then conducted to triangulate the collected data to understand the different interactions between the residents and urban nature. The main results show that, overall, residents perceive urban nature positively. Perceptions and experiences of nature vary considerably according to respondents’ socio-demographic profiles and proximity to green spaces. The study also identified the need for appropriate maintenance and management, as well as participatory planning to align nature-based solutions with residents’ expectations, with a focus on benefits. The recommendations offered to practitioners, planners, and those involved in urban development for implementing nature-based solutions and identifying limitations, such as a lack of revenue data, provide a solid basis for future action.

Urban growth can induce changes in the use and transformation of urban land. In the context of rapid urbanization, monitoring key indicators of sustainable development is essential. The aim of this study was to monitor and assess the level of sustainable development in the city of Ouagadougou between 2002 and 2022, based on global indicators such as Sustainable Development Goal 11.3.1 indicator and the Singapore City Biodiversity Index. A remote sensing and Geographic Information System approach was used to acquire and analyze open-source geospatial data. The results show an increasing inefficiency in land use, with excessive consumption to population growth until 2013. Between 2013 and 2022, this trend declined, but urban biodiversity nevertheless decreased significantly, with a 40% loss of natural areas between 2002 and 2022. Fragmentation of natural areas, due to infrastructure development, has amplified this degradation, posing ecological risks to the city. This study underlines the importance of strengthening the ecological connectivity of urban spaces to improve their sustainability and resilience. It also recommends reorienting urban strategies by integrating nature-based solutions and placing biodiversity preservation at the heart of sustainable urban development policies.

Cet article décrit les défis auxquels est confrontée une ville moyenne qui a connu une période faste avant de sombrer dans la décadence. En se concentrant sur l'étude de la structure, l'organisation et le fonctionnement actuel du centre-ville, une méthode mixte de recherche a permis d’identifier les problèmes de non-attractivité urbaine. Les résultats montrent que la situation du centre-ville de Koudougou, au Burkina Faso, n'est pas le seul facteur de la décadence de la ville. En effet, cette situation est renforcée par d'autres éléments liés à l'histoire politique du pays ou à la crise économique et sécuritaire qui affecte le Sahel en général et le Burkina Faso en particulier. Pour redonner vie à la ville, une intervention urbaine dynamique est recommandée, avec une opération de revitalisation qui redonnera au centre-ville sa vitalité et son attractivité.

In hot, semi-arid zones, cities are experiencing longer and more intense warm spells. Although the literature offers strategies to mitigate this threat, studies verifying their feasibility are limited. In this study, we aim to ascertain the feasibility of reducing land surface temperature (LST) through greening. We combine LST analysis with a feasibility assessment of cooling measures and consider physical and ownership dimensions alongside environmental and social factors, with Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) serving as a case study. The average LST during the hottest period (April–May) was calculated from ECOSTRESS and Landsat remotely sensed data, and multiple regression models were used to analyse the relationship between LST and land cover/land use across the city’s districts and sectors. Our assessment incorporates greening scenarios, SWOT analyses, and equity assessments, and our results indicate that barren land is the primary determinant of diurnal LST. Planting 0.45 million trees could reduce LST by up to 2.4 °C in peripheral sectors if large roads, utilities, and vacant lands are targeted. This may reduce disparities in tree cover between sectors but could widen the gap between districts. Recommendations include a more hierarchical street network, enhancing utility provision, and reducing barren land in the peripheral sectors.