The role of urban forest in regulating the urban heat island effect in Lusaka district, Zambia.
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Date
2025
Authors
Lambi, Claudia
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is about significant temperature increase in the Central business district (CBD) in comparison to the outskirts. It has the potential to amplify heat waves and hot seasons because of their intensity. UHI causes not only thermal discomfort, but also decreases in life quality. This study investigated the role of urban Forest in regulating the urban heat island effect in Lusaka district, Zambia. The study conducted a longitudinal correlational study on ambient air temperature data. Data was collected from Lusaka CBD, Woodlands suburbs, and Forest No. 27 using Mengshen Digital Psychrometer and mobile phone weather application for a period of Eight months September 2022, January 2023 – July 2023. Data analysis was achieved using Pearson’s correlation, k Within-Groups ANOVA and Trend Analyses in generalized linear models. A comprehensive review of the available literature was also done. The results showed that CBD recorded higher overall temperatures (12.4 – 26.3ºC, average=24.9ºC) compared to slightly vegetated Woodlands suburbs (11.4 – 24.5ºC, average=23ºC) and highly vegetated Forest No.27 (9.8 – 19.9ºC, average=18.2ºC). This indicates that, while UHI is a common phenomenon, green infrastructure in urban areas may, in some cases, mitigate its effects. Furthermore, the study found that the scope and impact of UHI are not uniform: depending on the peculiarities of urban morphologies, they pose different challenges linked to the microclimate peculiar to geographical locations in this case CBD,
Woodlands residential and forest No.27, with the CBD experiencing higher temperatures. The study concluded that preserving and expanding urban green resources contributes to additional benefits that may reduce the effects of UHI directly or indirectly. The study also emphasizes the importance of urban forest in maintaining green areas in the CBD. The study also emphasizes the importance of city planners paying closer attention to potential UHI effects when starting new construction projects or modifying existing ones.
Keywords: Green Infrastructure, Heat waves, microclimate, Psychrometer, urban heat island
Description
Thesis of Master of Science in Environmental and Natural Resource Management.