Temperature regulation potential of Edible Urban Green Infrastructure: case studies of school gardens in Mozambique

Rapid population growth in cities including those in Africa is exacerbating the urbanization process, leading to the intensification of urban heat island (UHI) effects and other environmental challenges. Edible Urban Green Infrastructure has the potential to provide a dual benefit of temperature regulation and food security particularly for dwellers of low, low-income and vulnerable communities. However, there is limited empirical evidence of the performance of this nature-based solution in the context of Mozambique and sub-Saharan Africa in general.

 

Thus, this study explores the potential of edible Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) as a strategy to address both food security and climate resilience. Specifically, it investigates the cooling effects of four school gardens in two such rapidly growing cities in the context of Mozambique. By leveraging both field observations during vegetable growth periods and ENVI-met simulations, the research evaluates the temperature and relative humidity variations in school gardens compared to bare soil plots at different heights (1.5m and 0.4m).

 

The findings reveal significant cooling effects in all the school gardens, with observed temperature reductions of up to 5.2°C at 0.4m and 4.5°C at 1.5m compared to bare soil. These results underscore the potential of edible UGI to mitigate urban heat island effects at the local level. They highlight the important role of edible UGI in enhancing climate resilience and provide a valuable solution for reducing the negative impacts of heat stress on vulnerable populations. This study offers insights that can inform urban planning strategies in cities facing similar challenges, aiding in climate adaptation and supporting sustainable urban development across African cities.