Ecosystem services of urban green spaces in African countries—perspectives and challenges

Cilliers, Sarel S.; Cilliers, Elizelle Juaneé; Lubbe, Rina; Siebert, S.J.

doi:10.1007/s11252-012-0254-3

Cited by 202 publications

(127 citation statements)

References 84 publications

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“…Social gains are accommodated, as public green spaces attract users through the recreational opportunities provided (Ward et al, 2010: 49;Cilliers et al, 2013: 683;Mosina & Maroyi, 2016: 181), or the prospect of access to nature (McConnachie & Shackleton, 2010: 244) and/or aesthetically pleasing surroundings where identity of space, sense of place and liveability are enhanced (Cilliers & Cilliers, 2016), and opportunities for reflection, access to cultural heritage and identity, spiritual enrichment; cognitive, emotional and social development 1 For a South African example, see Cilliers et al (2013).…”

Section: Coming To Terms With Urban Green Space Related Services Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

Considering urban green space and informal backyard rentals in South Africa: Disproving the compensation hypothesis

Lategan

Cilliers

2016

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This research reflects on planning for urban green space and the related impact of informal backyard rental densification in South Africa, based on the 'compensation hypothesis'. Informal backyard dwellings may increase densities substantially, occupying private green space, but often without reciprocal increases in public urban green space area. According to the compensation hypothesis, residents with limited access to private green space are more likely to seek compensation elsewhere. This research employs qualitative and quantitative analyses to investigate access to, and use of green spaces in the Bridgton and Bongolethu townships, Oudtshoorn. Findings disprove the compensation hypothesis, showing that proximate public green spaces are used sporadically, not correlating to increased densities. The number of backyard dwellings does not result in compensation behaviour, but an increased number of backyard tenants affect perceptions of green space availability and privacy. Although the compensation hypothesis is disproved in this case, findings probe the need to reconsider urban green space planning within low-cost areas, particularly considering densification impacts, linked to quality of life. As such, accessibility to public green spaces, as well as their function and form should be questioned as part of broader spatial planning approaches. Key words:Compensation hypothesis, ecosystem services, informal backyard rentals, urban green space OORWEEG STEDELIKE GROEN AREAS EN INFORMELE AGTERPLAAS-HUURVERDIGTING IN SUID-AFRIKA: WEERLÊ DIE VERGOEDINGSHIPOTESEHierdie navorsing besin oor die beplanning van stedelike groen areas en die verwante impak van informele agterplaas-huurverdigting in Suid-Afrika, gebaseer op die 'vergoedingshipotese'. Informele agterplaaswonings kan digthede aansienlik verhoog en beset sodoende private groen ruimtes, dikwels sonder wedersydse toenames in openbare stedelike groen areas. Volgens die vergoedingshipotese sal inwoners met 'n beperkte toegang tot private groen ruimte meer geneig wees om vergoeding elders te soek. Hierdie navorsing maak gebruik van kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe metodes om toegang tot, en gebruik van groen areas in die Bridgton-en Bongolethu-areas van Oudtshoorn te ondersoek. Bevindinge weerspreek die vergoedingshipotese en dui daarop dat openbare groen ruimtes hier sporadies gebruik word, dus nie korreleer met verhoogde digtheid nie. Die aantal agterplaaswonings lei nie tot vergoedingsgedrag nie, maar 'n toename in die aantal agterplaashuurders beïnvloed wel persepsies van groen ruimte beskikbaarheid en privaatheid. Hoewel die vergoedingshipotese in hierdie geval weerspreek word, toon bevindings die noodsaaklikheid om stedelike groen-ruimte-beplanning te heroorweeg binne die konteks van lae-koste gebiede, veral met inagneming van die verdigtingsimpak, gekoppel aan lewenskwaliteitoorwegings. As sodanig moet toeganklikheid tot openbare groen ruimtes, asook die funksie en vorm daarvan bevraagteken word as deel van breër ruimtelike beplanningsbenaderings. Atikel...

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Section: Coming To Terms With Urban Green Space Related Services Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

Considering urban green space and informal backyard rentals in South Africa: Disproving the compensation hypothesis

Lategan

Cilliers

2016

TRP

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“…Important contributions have been identified from various ecosystem types, even from previously unrecognized urban biotopes, including domestic gardens (Cilliers, Cilliers, Lubbe, & Siebert, 2012;Ross et al, 2012;Standish, Hobbs, & Miller, 2014). It is increasingly recognized that ecosystem services need to be incorporated into urban planning (Colding, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The concept of ecosystem services in adaptive urban planning and design: A framework for supporting innovation

Ahern

Cilliers

Niemelä

2014

Landscape and Urban Planning

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This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues.Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. Author's personal copy Landscape and Urban Planning 125 (2014) 254-259 Contents lists available at ScienceDirectLandscape and Urban Planning j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r . c o m / l o c a t e / l a n d u r b p l a n Research PaperThe concept of ecosystem services in adaptive urban planning and design: A framework for supporting innovation h i g h l i g h t s• Using citizen/civic science as a strategy to promote transdisciplinarity.• An adaptive method to promote innovation via small, safe-to-fail design experiments.• Suggested indicators to monitor ecosystem services provided by green infrastructure.• Proposes a core/common set of metrics to assess ecosystem services.• A transdisciplinary adaptive design/planning model to support urban sustainability.a r t i c l e i n f o b s t r a c tRecent research and professional interest in planning for sustainable and resilient cities emphasizes the assessment of a broad spectrum of urban ecosystem services. While such assessments are useful to establish specific benchmarks, and for measuring progress toward sustainability and resilience goals, they do not motivate, or support the innovations required to provide specific ecosystem services as an intentional part of routine urban and infrastructure development activity by municipalities and professionals. In this context, predictions for unprecedented future urbanization and development of new urban infrastructure represent a unique opportunity to "learn-by-doing". Significant advances in urban sustainability have recently been made through transdisciplinary collaborations among researchers, professionals, decision-makers and stakeholders. However, these advances, often through pilot projects, have limited transferability to other cities due to the inherent biophysical and cultural uniqueness of the city in which they originated, and of the projects and plans themselves. The promise of practicing "learning-by-doing", therefore, remains an elusive goal, not yet fully integrated with urban development. In this essay, a framework for "safe to fail" adaptive urban design is proposed to integrate science, professional practice, and stakeholder participation. The framework is a transdisciplinary working method, and includes experimental design guidelines, monitoring and assessment protocols and strategies for realizing specific urban ecosystem services integral with urban development. The "safe-to-fail" adaptive urban design framework encourages and rewards innovation in a low-risk context -while assessing the achievement and performance of the specific intended ecosystem services.

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“…According to Baycan-Levent et al (2002), green spaces are public or private urban areas, primarily covered by vegetation which are directly or indirectly available to users, whereas Dunnett et al (2002) use the term to refer to lands that are made up mainly of unsealed, permeable, "soft" surfaces such as soil, grass, shrubs, forests, parks, gardens, wetlands, and trees which are privately or publicly accessible or managed. Cilliers (2013), dwelling on the works of Tzoulas et al (2007) and Sandstrom (2002), used the term "green spaces" to refer to entire green infrastructure which covers a network of all natural, semi-natural and artificial ecological systems found at all spatial scales within a given area. Swanwick et al (2003), in their description of the urban environment, provide a framework which includes green spaces as a component of this environment.…”

Section: The Concept Of Green Spacesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancing quality of life through the lens of green spaces: A systematic review approach

Mensah¹,

Andres²,

Perera³

et al. 2016

Intnl. J. Wellbeing

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Abstract:Improving citizens' quality of life is a stated priority of many governments in both the global north and south. However, efforts to achieve this often focus on socio-economic measures, with limited attention to the contributions of environmental variables such as green spaces. This paper sought to bridge this knowledge gap by tracing the linkages between green spaces and quality of life, and how these connections can inform policy development in order to assist governments to achieve positive outcomes for quality of life. The paper took a theoretical approach by utilising the systematic review method. In all, 452 publications were included in this review, and rigorous content analysis was employed to retrieve relevant data. Green spaces were found to provide various social, economic, and environmental benefits, which in turn improve physical, psychological, emotional, social, and material wellbeing of individuals and thus enhance quality of life. It is therefore strongly recommended that conservation of green spaces should be integrated into national health, environmental and socio-economic policies in order to promote effective utilisation of green spaces to enhance citizens' overall quality of life.

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Ecosystem services of urban green spaces in African countries—perspectives and challenges

Cited by 202 publications

References 84 publications

Considering urban green space and informal backyard rentals in South Africa: Disproving the compensation hypothesis

Considering urban green space and informal backyard rentals in South Africa: Disproving the compensation hypothesis

The concept of ecosystem services in adaptive urban planning and design: A framework for supporting innovation

Enhancing quality of life through the lens of green spaces: A systematic review approach

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