African cities are turning degraded land into infrastructure for more liveable growth

What the report says

African cities are increasingly treating degraded land, wetlands and waste systems as part of urban infrastructure, according to a Bird Agency special report published by The Independent Uganda. The story says local governments are using restoration projects to improve liveability, manage environmental risk and create public space as cities grow rapidly across the continent.

In Kenya’s Kisii County, officials converted the former Nyambera dumpsite into Etaya Governor’s Park and added waste-recovery facilities aimed at reducing landfill pressure. The report says the county also runs a public-works programme that supports street cleaning and drainage maintenance. In Rwanda, Kigali’s Nyandungu Eco-Park is presented as an example of wetland rehabilitation paired with recreation and habitat recovery, while the World Bank has outlined further wetland park plans for the city. The article also highlights Addis Ababa’s river-corridor upgrades and waste-to-energy work, including the Reppie plant.

Elsewhere, Freetown’s TreeTown initiative is restoring degraded landscapes through tree planting and digital monitoring, with reported gains in planted trees, restored hectares and green jobs. In Lagos, a small biodigester pilot is shown as a decentralised way to turn organic waste into electricity, gas and fertilizer. The report frames these efforts as responses to rising urban populations and the need for drainage, sanitation, energy and flood resilience. It also notes, as broader context, that African urban growth is expected to continue sharply over coming decades, increasing pressure on city infrastructure.