The modern compact city is identified as a high-density and mixed-use pattern. Its features are believed to contribute to a form of functional urban design that supports sustainability and, restresses, the importance of ecosystem services. Urban green space (UGS) plays a vital role in the design and impact on how compact cities have developed and triggered a scientific discord on the amount of greenery individuals require and to what extent contemporary approaches address the question. Research points to at least 9 m2 of green space per individual with an ideal UGS value of 50 m2 per capita. An examination on the perception, use, quality, accessibility and health risks of urban green and blue spaces is explored, alongside the availability of novel UGS and greenery-related approaches that investigate compact city design and planning for health and wellbeing. The amount of ‘green’ and relating UGS availability in cities indicates vital knowledge modern compact cities must consider.

Recently published green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and ecosystem disservices (ED) literature have focused primarily on the supply of urban regulating and cultural ecosystem services (ES). Other literature on urban and peri-urban agriculture has mostly studied the role of localized, intensive agricultural practices in providing food to inhabitants. The aim of this review is to raise awareness and stress the knowledge gap on the importance of urban provisioning ES, particularly when implementing an edible green infrastructure (EGI) approach as it can offer improved resilience and quality of life in cities. We compiled and systematically analyzed studies on urban ES and ED related to a number of EGI typologies. Our systematic review of the relevant literature via an EGI framework, identified more than 80 peer-reviewed publications that focused on ES and food production in urban areas. An EGI approach can contribute socially, economically, and environmentally to urban sustainability and food security. However, such benefits must be weighed against ED trade-offs, including: potential health risks caused by human exposure to heavy metals and organic chemical contaminants often present in urban surroundings. We conclude with recommendations and guidelines for incorporating EGI into urban planning and design, and discuss novel areas for future research. 1. NBS is an approach that improves upon the livability and resilience of cities in retrospect to climate change. Although these concepts are apparently used interchangeably, below we refer to urban GI as hybrid infrastructure of green and built systems (e.g. urban forests, wetlands, parks, green roofs, and walls that together can contribute to ecosystem resilience) and human benefits through their ecological processes or ES (Demuzere et al., 2014; Russo et al., 2016). These benefits or ES are also referred to as NBS when GI is incorporated into urban management, planning, design, and sociopolitical practices and policies for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Indeed, urban GI has been found to contribute positively to outdoor and indoor environments (Russo et al., 2016; Wang et al., 2014), while providing many relevant ES − including important health benefits (Coutts and Hahn, 2015). As such, GI delivers measurable ES and benefits that are fundamental to the concept of a sustainable city (Ahern et al., 2014). Urban and peri-urban agriculture and forestry (UPAF), on the other hand have been studied and can be considered a set of experiences and practices for implementing the GI approach in and around cities (Eigenbrod and Gruda, 2015; Escobedo et al., 2011). UPAF systems focus on agro-forestry production and agro-ecological practices (e.g. production of vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, crops, aromatic and medicinal herbs, and ornamental plants) as well as the raising of animals (e.g. livestock and aquaculture) in and around urban areas (FAO, 2016). Whereas GI, as stated earlier, is closely related to ES and human wellbeing, with particular focus on regu...

This study aims at investigating student perception of Nigerian institutions of higher learning using the new digital culture induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, namely, online learning (i.e. e-learning), that has become commonplace globally and specifically in Nigeria. The study used quantitative survey methods and a sample size of 1134 Nigerian students of the three types of higher institutions in Nigeria: universities, polytechnics, and colleges of higher education based on student state residential location. The respondents completed a questionnaire via Google Forms in June and July 2020. The study found that students are not satisfied with virtual learning embarked upon by many higher institutions throughout the country during the COVID-19 lockdown and would not want the online learning to continue after the pandemic due to poor internet infrastructure and lack of electricity. The study concluded that students of higher education in Nigeria have a low acceptance of online learning technology, preferring instead the traditional classroom setting, and thus putting them in the “Laggards adopter categorization” of the diffusion innovation theory, i.e., the group that is highly conservative and extremely slow to accept new technological innovations. The study recommends that universities should engage students more interactively not only through texts but also video (e.g. camera demonstrations), increase their online learning during the pandemic so as not to lag academically, and spend more time on online learning to get the best possible level of instruction until traditional learning resumes. Also, it is recommended that administrators of Nigerian higher institutions should return to a traditional learning format as soon as the pandemic is over as well as an overhaul and restructuring of the internet and power grid nationwide.

Nigeria’s 196 million people is the third fastest growing population in the world; the interactions of this build up has left an indelible mark on the landscape and environment. Urbanization, deforestation, flooding, desertification, over population and all levels of pollution are resultant effects of this interaction with the environment. These changes directly relate to a seemingly endless desire for food, shelter, recreation and infrastructural facilities and urbanization in general. This has placed enormous pressure on ecosystem stability and environmentally sound living conditions. Flooding has become an annual event for Nigerian cities—where it consistently causes economic problems in the rainy season. Effort made by the government and residents to forestall this problem has produced sub-optimal results. There is a need to adopt more proactive, standard and reliable procedures that can offer sustainable outcomes and restore the socioeconomic growth of urban areas. Frequency of flooding is due to a number of factors relating to differing climatological patterns of precipitation, urban growth and increase in paved surfaces. The aim of this review is to utilize a conceptual framework to assess and identify areas within Nigeria prone to flooding and examine possible means of alleviating damage and harm.