Scaling Green Neighbourhoods into Resilient Urban Systems - Urban Forestry as Infrastructure for Integrated Settlements

The expansion of settlements in African cities, particularly low-income neighbourhoods, is taking place alongside increasing climate risks, socio-economic challenges and the loss of key urban ecosystems. Housing in these settlements is often exposed to extreme flooding, heat and other environmental challenges, affecting urban safety, health and living conditions. As African cities increase efforts to meet the rising demand for housing, land, and basic services, strategic planning of settlements has become increasingly important for urban resilience. This session positions urban forestry as key settlement infrastructure that supports safe, resilient, and liveable neighbourhoods, through integrated urban development approaches linking housing, public space, climate adaptation and mitigation, and community governance. Trees, green corridors, buffers and parks reduce heat stress around homes and neighbourhoods, manage stormwater and flood risk, stabilize land to limit displacement and loss of homes, and improve air quality, while also improving the long-term economic value of housing and creating local livelihood opportunities. When integrated into settlement planning processes, urban forestry delivers climate, health, biodiversity and economic co-benefits that strengthen housing outcomes. The session is anchored on the launch of the Compendium 'Urban Forests and Green Spaces in Africa: Case Studies and Lessons from Across the Continent', a key outcome of the 2nd African Forum on Urban Forests (March 2025), which convened over 430 delegates from 35+ African countries. It showcases how urban forestry has been embedded into integrated neighbourhood planning and settlement upgrading, exploring themes such as home garden carbon sequestration, school-based greening initiatives, urban heat island mitigation, street tree survival strategies and community-driven reforestation projects. From site-level interventions to citywide and regional green strategies, the session reframes housing not just as a physical structure but as a broader ecosystem where green infrastructure supports resilience, moving beyond isolated local greening projects toward coordinated, scalable approaches. By bringing together local governments, city practitioners and communities, the session explores how urban forestry can be institutionalised within integrated housing and settlement planning frameworks, contributing to safer, greener, healthier and more sustainable cities in Africa.