Nature-Based Solutions: Assessing Urban Greenspace Availability In Iligan City, Philippines
https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2025-3627
Abstract
The continuous growth of urban areas, driven by population increase and commercial expansion, has led to urban problems like heat islands, pollution, and environmental damage. Greenspaces, defined as ‘green’ areas within cities that offer various advantages for human welfare and environmental quality, have become a vital strategy for addressing these significant urban issues. However, despite their clear advantages, the growth of greenspaces, particularly in the Philippines, is hindered by rapid urbanisation and an overemphasis on built infrastructure. Although extensive research exists on formal urban greenspaces, studies on informal greenspaces, especially within the Philippine context, have been limited. This study defines formal urban greenspaces as officially managed areas, such as parks, and informal urban greenspaces as unmanaged areas, like vacant lots or riverbanks. Surveys were conducted with 187 stakeholders from various sectors in Iligan City to identify their preferred nature-based solutions (NBS) and intervention types. GIS mapping was performed using quickOSM and Google Satellite through QGIS software version 3.4 to gather data on existing urban greenspaces per capita in Iligan City. The collected data were analysed using descriptive and frequency statistics. The findings indicated that mangrove restoration (62%) and urban tree planting (55%) were the most preferred interventions. GIS results showed that 72% of urban barangays failed to meet the WHO’s minimum greenspace standard of 9 m2 per capita, with an average of 5.7 m2 (SD = 2.3). The study recommends that future initiatives should concentrate on developing and expanding formal urban green spaces in the city’s urban barangays by incorporating informal greenspaces into urban planning and improving greenspace management.
Supporting agencies: The authors would like to acknowledge the local government of Iligan City for their cooperation and support in completing the data collection for this study. They also thank Mr John Liwanag for his support during the data analysis. The first author is grateful to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for the scholarship provided through the Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Programme (ASTHRDP).
About the Authors
Audrey Rose A. Velayo
Department of Environmental Science, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology
Philippines
Philippines
Tibanga, Iligan City 9200
Peter D. Suson
Department of Environmental Science, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology
Philippines
Philippines
Tibanga, Iligan City 9200
Maricar M. Aguilos
Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University
United States
United States
Raleigh, NC 27606
Peng Zhao
State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University
China
China
Haikou, 570228 Hainan
Hernando P. Bacosa
Department of Environmental Science, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology
Philippines
Philippines
Tibanga, Iligan City 9200
References
1. Alejandre, J. C., Nasudi, G., Soluta, C., & Lynch, J. (2022). Child-centered and nutrition-sensitive green spaces: Policy recommendations for childhood obesity prevention in the Philippines’ urban poor communities. HPHR Journal. https://doi.org/10.54111/0001/kkk5
2. Agustriani, F., Iskandar, I., Yazid, M., & Fauziyah, N. (2023). Economic valuation of mangrove ecosystem services in Sembilang National Park of South Sumatra, Indonesia. Hu’nan Daxue Xuebao. Ziran Kexue Ban, 50(1), 156–166. https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674-2974.50.1.16
3. Artur, O., & Fikfak, A. (2012). Urbani ob vodni javni prostor – reka kot razvojni generator / Urban riverside public space – river as the generator of development.
4. Banguilan, Y. J. T. (2024). Analysis of urban green space distribution in Metro Manila, Philippines using remote sensing and geographic information system techniques. University Knowledge Digital Repository. https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/etd-undergrad/11581/
5. Barsukova, N., Pallotta, V., & Vasilenko, E. (2022). Development of riverine landscape spaces in the city structure. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 988(4), 042084. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/988/4/042084
6. Biernacka, M., Kronenberg, J., Łaszkiewicz, E., Czembrowski, P., Parsa, V. A., & Sikorska, D. (2023). Beyond urban parks: Mapping informal green spaces in an urban–peri-urban gradient. Land Use Policy, 131, 106746. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106746
7. Cedamon, E., Stephen, R., Harrison, J. L., Herbohn, E. O., & Mangaoang, M. (2009). Reliability of the Barangay-based smallholder tree farm inventory: Research and policy implications.
8. Cipriano, T. J. L., & Garcia, E. B. (2019). Hazard experiences and risk reduction and mitigation initiatives of residents in Barangay 843 – Zone 92 in Pandacan, Manila. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 338(1), 012001. https://doi.org/10.1088/17551315/338/1/012001
9. Cuenca-Ocay, G. (2024). Mangrove ecosystems’ role in climate change mitigation. https://doi.org/10.59120/drj.v12i2.168
10. Dangol, N., & Carrasco, S. (2019). Residents’ self-initiatives for flood adaptation in informal riverbank settlements of Kathmandu. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 40, 101156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2019.101156
11. De Juan, S., Gelcich, S., & Fernandez, M. (2017). Integrating stakeholder perceptions and preferences on ecosystem services in the management of coastal areas. Ocean & Coastal Management, 136, 38–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2016.11.019
12. Demashkieh, M. (2022). Reviving the neglected urban spaces using recreational facilities. Architecture & Planning Journal/APJ, 28(1). https://doi.org/10.54729/tyek8100
13. Eslit, E. R. (2023). Empowering Change at the Grassroots: Community-Led Initiatives for Local Environmental Protection. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202307.1055.v1
14. Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. (2016). Comparison of convenience sampling and purposive sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11
15. Farahani, L. M., & Maller, C. (2018). Investigating residents’ use and perceptions of informal greenspaces: A study of Stony Creek in Melbourne’s west.
16. Ferreira, V., Barreira, A. P., Pinto, P., & Panagopoulos, T. (2022). Understanding attitudes towards the adoption of nature-based solutions and policy priorities shaped by stakeholders’ awareness of climate change. Environmental Science & Policy, 131, 149–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2022.02.007
17. Falchetta, G., Ahmed, T., & Hammad, H. (2023). Tracking global urban green space trends. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-1989
18. Gbadegesin, A. S., Ikwuyatum, G., Knight, S., & Cinderby, S. (2024). Urban greenspaces and patterns of common mental disorders in Ibadan City, Nigeria. Ghana Journal of Geography, 16(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.4314/gjg.v16i3.1
19. Giorgio, F., Bianchi, A., & Monteleone, V. M. (2022). Green space for health promotion. Journal of Advanced Health Care, 5–12. https://doi.org/10.36017/jahc2205-02
20. Gonzales, L., & Magnaye, D. (2016). Challenges to the multi-functional uses and multifarious benefits of urban green spaces: Basis of urban biodiversity planning and management in the City of Manila, Philippines. https://doi.org/10.21625/essd.v1i1.33
21. Heat Island Effect | US EPA. (2025, April 8). US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/heatislands
22. Huang, Z., Dong, J., Chen, Z., Zhao, Y., Huang, S., Xu, W., Zheng, D., Huang, P., & Fu, W. (2022). Spatiotemporal characteristics of public recreational activity in urban green space under summer heat. Forests, 13(8), 1268. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13081268
23. Hilmi, E., Usman, U., & Iqbal, A. (2023). The external, internal factors, and ecosystem services to support mangrove rehabilitation planning in the North Coast of Jakarta. Proceedings of the International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches for Sustainable Rural Development, 2(1), 186. https://doi.org/10.20884/2.procicma.2023.2.1.7783
24. Ibañez, C. A., Palec, L., Argamosa, R. J., & Arceo, G. M. (2024). Leveraging spatial analysis techniques for developing a climate resilient and localized urban greening plan for Pasig City. ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, X-5–2024, 79–87. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-annals-x-5-2024-79-2024
25. Katalin, B. (2019). Development of a GIS methodology to evaluate informal urban green areas for inclusion in a community governance program.
26. Liana, N. C., Estoque, L. M. D., Dela Fuente, R. C., Mabborang, M. G., & Molina, M. G. (2022). Forecasting urban population growth in the Philippines using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model. EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research. https://doi.org/10.36713/epra10819
27. Li, Y., Svenning, J., Zhou, W., Zhu, K., Abrams, J. F., Lenton, T. M., Ripple, W. J., Yu, Z., Teng, S. N., Dunn, R. R., & Xu, C. (2024). Green spaces provide substantial but unequal urban cooling globally. Nature Communications, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-51355-0
28. Mario, R. D. R., Mark Anthony, M. G., Ryan Randle, B. R. (2020). The Philippines’ national urban policy for achieving sustainable, resilient, greener, and smarter cities. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3738-7_7
29. Nambazo, O., & Nazombe, K. (2024). The spatial heterogeneity of urban green space distribution and configuration in Lilongwe City, Malawi. PLoS ONE, 19(7), e0307518. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0307518
30. O’Leary, B., Christine, C., Fonseca, C., Cornet, C., de Vries, M., Degia, A. K., Failler, P., Furlan, E., Garrabou, J., Gil, A., Hawkins, J. P., KrauseJensen, D., Le Roux, X., Peck, M. A., Perez, G., Queirós, A. M., Różyński, G., Sánchez-Arcilla, A., Simide, R., Sousa Pinto, I., Trégarot, E., & Roberts, C. M. (2023). Embracing nature-based solutions to promote resilient marine and coastal ecosystems. Nature-Based Solutions. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbsj.2022.100044
31. Pietrzyk-Kaszyńska, A., Czepkiewicz, M., & Kronenberg, J. (2017). Eliciting non-monetary values of formal and informal urban green spaces using public participation GIS. Landscape and Urban Planning, 160, 85–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2016.12.012
32. Revich, B. A. (2023). The significance of green spaces for protecting the health of urban populations. Health Risk Analysis. https://doi.org/10.21668/health.risk/2023.2.17
33. Rupprecht, C., & Byrne, J. (2017). Informal urban green space as anti-gentrification strategy? In Urban Greenspaces (pp. 209–226). https://doi.org/10.17605/osf.io/4d463
34. Russo, A., & Cirella, G. T. (2018). Modern compact cities: How much greenery do we need? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(10), 2180. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15102180
35. Sandip, S., & Shiva, P. (2023). Studying the spatio-temporal changes of urban green space: A case study of Pokhara Metropolitan City. Journal of Engineering Issues and Solutions. https://doi.org/10.3126/joeis.v2i1.49491
36. Sikorski, P., Gawryszewska, B. J., Sikorska, D., Chormański, J., Schwerk, A., Jojczyk, A., Ciężkowski, W., Archiciński, P., Łepkowski, M., Dymitryszyn, I., Przybysz, A., Wińska-Krysiak, M., Zajdel, B., Matusiak, J., & Łaszkiewicz, E. (2021). The value of doing nothing: How informal green spaces can provide comparable ecosystem services to cultivated urban parks. Ecosystem Services, 50, 101339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2021.101339
37. Rupprecht, C. D. D., & Byrne, J. A. (n.d.). Informal urban green space as anti-gentrification strategy? https://doi.org/10.9774/gleaf.9781315229515_16
38. Thahir, A. R. (2016). Generating sustainable green open space development in urban residential areas through a community participation approach. LivaS: International Journal on Livable Space. https://doi.org/10.25105/livas.v0i0.83
39. Thong, T. D., Wang, H., & Furuya, K. (2024). The Concept of Informal Green Space in Academic Research: A Comprehensive Literature Review on the Terminology Used. Land, 14(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.3390/land14010043
40. Trinidad, M. M. (2007). Land use dynamics in Iligan City using remotely sensed data and GIS. https://journals.msuiit.edu.ph/tmf/article/view/244
41. Turna, N., & Bhandari, H. (2022). Role of parks as recreational spaces at neighborhood level in Indian cities. ECS Transactions, 107(1), 8685–8694. https://doi.org/10.1149/10701.8685ecst
42. Uniaty, Q. (2015). Green infrastructure development in sustainable water resources management system. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 747, 127–131. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.747.127
43. Uslu, D. Y., Almansouri, H. M. S., Elahsadi, A. H. M., & Cetin, M. (2024). Towards sustainable cities: Evaluating the distribution and functionality of green spaces in Atakum. Journal of Design for Resilience in Architecture and Planning, 5(3), 461–476. https://doi.org/10.47818/drarch.2024. v5i3143
44. Velayo, A. R. A., Suson, P. D., Aguilos, M. M., & Bacosa, H. P. (2024). Building urban climate resilience: Assessing awareness, perception, and willingness regarding nature-based solutions and climate change among stakeholders in Iligan City, Philippines. Urban Science, 8(2), 53. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci8020053
45. Zhang, W., & Xin, J. (2023). Green Spaces and the Spontaneous Renewal of Historic Neighborhoods: A Case Study of Beijing’s Dashilar Community. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416566
Review
For citations:
Velayo A.A., Suson P.D., Aguilos M.M., Zhao P., Bacosa H.P. Nature-Based Solutions: Assessing Urban Greenspace Availability In Iligan City, Philippines. GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY. 2025;18(4):103-114. https://doi.org/10.24057/2071-9388-2025-3627
Views:
69
JATS XML
Email this article 