Abstract

Urbanization has led to the rapid degradation of the natural vegetation, biodiversity loss, greater air pollution and urban heat island phenomena. Faced with these environmental challenges, urban vegetation has become an important action to strengthen the ecological resilience of cities and improve their quality of life. Native plants species are playing an increasingly important role in urban greening projects because of their ecological compatibility, adaptability to local climate and their role in sustainable landscape management. This paper looks at the importance of native plants in urban greening programs through a discussion of their environmental, ecological and socio-economic benefits. The research adopted is qualitative and descriptive in nature which is conducted through a comprehensive literature review, policy documents review, and case studies of urban ecology and sustainable landscape planning. Analysis reveals that native plants have relatively lower water, fertilizer and maintenance requirement and can provide suitable habitat for native birds, insects, pollinators and other wildlife, compared to exotic plant species. Their deep rooting ability helps to stabilize soil, recharge groundwater, sequester carbon, and manage stormwater effectively, enhancing the urban ecosystem services. In addition, native plants add beauty to urban environments, help to improve air quality and thermal comfort, and encourage community involvement in the conservation of the environment. The results showed that urban greening programs would be effective only if they are part of an integrated planning process, if they are supported by integrated policies, if there is community awareness, and if there is collaboration among different actors such as urban planners, environmental agencies, and community members. While there are still other issues to overcome, including insufficient availability of native plant materials, lack of public awareness and disjointed implementation, these challenges can be overcome by the use of appropriate policy measures and education. The paper concludes that planting native species into the city landscape is a viable and sustainable solution to make cities greener, healthier and more resilient to climate changes, while at the same time maintaining regional biodiversity and enhancing ecological sustainability for future generations.