Abstract:
The main objective of this study was to assess the status, challenges and opportunities of
urban green spaces planning and development in the Hossana town in the SNNPR. The
researcher used both qualitative and quantitative research approach and descriptive survey
research design. To achieve the objectives of the study both qualitative and quantitative data
were used. Based on the nature of the study data were collected from different respondent
using questionnaires, interviews, and observations. The total households of the study was
12.797 and the sample size of the study was 388 households. They were chosen using
systematic random sampling technique. 8 Key Informant Interviewers were used to
supplement the data obtained from household survey and key informants were chosen using
purposively sampling. Both quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods were used. SPSS
version 20 was used to analyze the quantitative data and narrative analysis method was used
to analyze qualitative data. The researcher used descriptive statistics and one way ANOVA
for quantitative data. The finding of the study shows that the existing types of green spaces
were low in terms of quantity and quality aspects. The coverage of urban green spaces
component has decreased within the last three years. There are several challenges for the
decline in coverage and quantity. Some of these challenges include lack of awareness, weak
institutional capacity, lack of budget, lack of coordination between community and
municipality, less attention and priority given for urban green spaces. Furthermore, the
opportunities were urban green space proclamations, Existing rule and regulation and
available of land was the major opportunities and initiatives for the planning and
development of urban green spaces. To solve the above problems the following
recommendations were given: awareness creation on the communal nature of urban green
spaces, develop institutional capacity, allocate sufficient budget, the government should
provide greater attention to improve green space development, integration among different
stakeholders, give trained professionals and improving official capacities of local actions are
responsible to urban green spaces planning and development in the study area.
