Spatio-temporal patterns and changes in environmental attitudes and place attachment in Gauteng, South Africa

Abstract

In this study, we employed a number of geospatial techniques to examine the spatiotemporal patterns and changes of environmental attitudes and place attachment values in the Gauteng province of South Africa. The data were obtained from the Gauteng City Region Observatory's Quality of Life Survey collected at three separate points in time, namely 2013, 2015, and 2017. Results indicated that wards (smallest administrative and analysis units) located on the urban periphery of Gauteng, which are generally less affluent, largely held more negative environmental attitudes and place attachment values during the three time periods. In contrast, centrally located wards, which are generally more affluent, expressed more positive environmental attitudes but less place attachment values, especially in 2017. The findings of this research not only highlight the complex spatio-temporal distribution of environmental attitudes and place attachment values throughout Gauteng but also emphasize the need for spatially targeted state interventions for future environmental planning within the province.

Shifting from techno-economic to socio-ecological priorities: Incorporating landscape preferences and ecosystem services into the siting of renewable energy infrastructure

“…However these data are only a snapshot, given the temporal variations in social preference data suggested by e.g. Dlamini et al [ 68 ]. Consequently, and despite the potentially high costs of longitudinal data collection and analysis, the authors of this study emphasize that social preferences should be monitored regularly if this option is to be sustained.…”

Spatial pattern of environmental perception and place attachment in a diverse socio-economic context: the case of Gauteng province, South Africa

“…Several studies have attempted to map environmental perceptions and place attachment spatially to understand their distribution over space and to determine the reasons for their spatial disparities (e.g., [8,13,19,29]). Most of these studies have asserted that people tend on the one hand to stay close to what they like and other people they relate to, and on the other hand to be distant from areas that are hostile or those that do not relate to their worldviews.…”