Contribution of GIS to the Characterization of Urban Green Spaces: Case of Cocody Municipality, Abidjan, Southeastern Côte d'Ivoire

In the municipality of Cocody (Abidjan), public green spaces are increasingly threatened by demographic pressure and urban expansion, reducing their availability and accessibility in favor of other priorities. To date, the lack of studies incorporating georeferenced data prevents the assessment of whether the remaining areas are sufficient to ensure residents' well-being. This raises a key question: How can Geographic Information Systems (GIS) contribute to the characterization of Cocody's green spaces? This study aims to answer this question by evaluating whether the available green space per capita aligns with urban planning and well-being standards. Specifically, the study describes the spatial distribution of green spaces in Cocody, assesses the ratio of green space area to population, determines their diversity, and identifies their uses. The methodology involved a field inventory, digitization of green space boundaries using recorded coordinates, and user surveys. The results indicate that Cocody has 42 public green spaces distributed across 16 of its 26 neighborhoods. The floristic diversity includes 169 plant species from 146 genera and 63 families. In terms of available green space per capita, the analysis reveals a very limited surface area, with a ratio of 0.14 m² of public green space per inhabitant. The city center (older neighborhoods) has a ratio of 0.44 m² per inhabitant, while the outskirts (newer neighborhoods) show only 0.06 m² per inhabitant. These figures remain significantly below WHO recommendations. Residents mainly use these green spaces for rest, benefiting from the shade they provide. These findings will help guide the development policy for green spaces in Cocody.