In recent years, a critical understanding of human-nature interactions has become central to studies exploring the dynamics of urban morphology and the sustainability of growing cities in the developing world. Accordingly, numerous scholars have employed the coupled human and natural systems (CHANS) framework as a tool for understanding how cities are evolving in times of profound global change. Focusing on the case of Kano, northern Nigeria's largest city, this paper explores the potential of the CHANS framework in the analysis and interpretation of the human-nature interface in cities of the global south. Drawing on the qualitative analysis of graphic information and classical and contemporary literature, the centuries-old spatial morphology of Kano is traced and analysed. In the process, the paper highlights how change in the roles of traditional institutions of urban land administration has triggered the degeneration of the city's resilient indigenous urban morphology. Field investigations and the analysis of a variety of 19th, 20th and, 21st century images reveal significant change in the city's traditional building materials, roofing styles, street forms, distribution of ponds, and green and open spaces. Population pressure on urban land has also been a major driving force behind the unfolding changes. One catastrophic outcome of these changes has been the exacerbation of recurrent floods. In drawing attention to wider lessons for urban planners in other developing country contexts, the paper stresses the need to analyse any notable spatial and non-spatial events in cities in relation to the changing dynamics of urban morphology.

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Large cities are characterized by concentration of large number of people and centralization of commercial activities around their cores. These and consequently, emission of large amount of carbon dioxide (CO study aims to estimate the average amount of CO Kano Metropolis, Nigeria. The rela average density on the city's roads, estimating CO automobiles and examining the situation against CO Federal Government of Nigeria to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Short period traffic count at various traffic corridors of the city was used to determine automobiles' average density per hour and United States Environmental Protection Agency method was used in estimating CO following emissions in metric tonnes per hour; 15.75 from cars and buses, 6.08 from tricycles and 0.56 from lorries. These give a combined hourly emission of 22.39 tonnes. CO measures identified are expansion of roads and construction of flyovers to decongest traffic. It is recommended that efficient public urban mass transit that involves low carbon emission should be provided and individual car usage should be discouraged

This study investigated shallow groundwater quality and yield for irrigation along Hadejia River Basin of Jigawa State in both the dry and rainy seasons of one year. Sites in the floodplain with a history of irrigation where the use of tube wells is dominant were selected covering a transect of about 135 km. Six transects, oriented perpendicular to the river channel were established within 1 km2 in each site. Three tube wells were sampled and positioned along each transect at regular intervals, making a total of 18 wells in each site. To ensure quality control and quality assurance, the sampling standard methods prescribed by APHA (2005) were followed carefully for the collection of groundwater samples. Pumping test, which was repeated four times at 15 min interval in both morning and evening hours was used to measure groundwater yield. Multivariate statistical tools such as analysis of variance, Pearson product moment correlation, and cluster analysis were used respectively, to test the research hypothesis and to classify sampling points into similar groups based on groundwater quality. Results showed that the suitability of the water is lower in the dry season than in the rainy season. Average yield of wells for evening hours recorded a higher yield of 3.3 l/s (56%) than yield in the morning hours of 2.6 l/s (44%). Although groundwater average yield was found to be within the standard (2.5 l/s) for irrigation, it is realized that any extraction of the resource more than the prevailing rate can induce a decline in groundwater yield. A decision support system is recommended among the strategies to improve groundwater resources management in the area.

This chapter takes a critical look at the multiple dimensions of water crises in drylands of Sub-Saharan Africa. It argues that urban water crises cannot be explained in isolation of rural areas many of which have competing water needs and are the locations for dams and other critical urban water infrastructure. It uses an example of Kano region – a hydrogeological and geopolitical region of over ten million inhabitants whose lives and livelihoods are vulnerable to climate change. The study draws upon a suite of methods comprising literature review, field-based measurements and observations of wells, as well as information retrieval from people managing wells and those directly affected by water scarcity. Results reveal that basement complex aquifer found mostly in Kano State is the most overexploited compared to Jigawa State's predominantly Chad formation system. It is evident that majority people in basement complex areas travel to a distance of 300-1000m in order to fetch water for their daily use. The current situation of current and future water crises in the region brings to the fore the role of technology, governance, and the need for active private sector participation in planning and management of water resources and services in dry land areas.