3.4 Analysis
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score of 10. Again, neither the critical theory nor the participation paradigms scored
any points.
3.4.1.1 Knowledge Generation
Positivism
Several explanations exist for the dominance of positivism, the first of which relates
directly to the subject matter at hand. Green and ecological infrastructures fit neatly
within the natural sciences, especially when it comes to the notion of biodiversity.
For instance, Respondent 1, who is a municipal engineer, coined his understanding
of the concept ‘green infrastructure’ by considering biodiversity and its function in
retaining flood water. He remarked that: ‘There [in the retention ponds] you have all
your various grasses. This is what the environmental people like and there is lots of
biodiversity, but it also functions as a storage place for the storm flow’.
Respondent 3, a researcher from the UKZN, who works closely with eThekwini
on green infrastructure matters, said that she had been grappling with the green
infrastructure concept quite a lot until she had a conversation with a colleague who
was busy with research on food security. This colleague remarked to her that he had,
‘in the last ten years been framing things around ecosystem services, biodiversity
and the ecological infrastructure’. Furthermore, she said that:
eThekwini is very good in understanding the difference between biodiversity, ecosystem
services and ecological infrastructure. Biodiversity is part of that [ecological infrastructure],
but it is also different from it. So, I am linking to those…terms and I add green infrastructure.
Then it becomes…another kind of framing.
Respondent 9, a municipal official, was very explicit when I asked about her
understanding of the ‘green infrastructure’ concept. She indicated that she worked
within the ‘biodiversity department’, and that ‘the department has the function to
protect biodiversity and, for me, that biodiversity is our [ecological infrastructure]’.
When asked about the municipality’s policies, plans and bylaws, the opinion
of Respondent 10, a researcher from the INR, was that: ‘I think the intention is
around biodiversity conservation…in terms of their mandate under Section 24 of
the Constitution, where people have the right to a clean environment’. Respondent
16, another municipal official who works closely with biodiversity matters, had the
following to say: ‘Then there is the biodiversity theme, which is also a very good
example of policy [constituting green infrastructure initiatives]’.
Biodiversity
With respect to the concept of ‘biodiversity’, Slootweg (2005:37) noted that scientists
treat it as an ‘uncomplicated concept’ and as ‘a visible reality that surrounds and
supports us’. Slootweg’s (2005: 37) understanding is that:
Biodiversity encompasses all living organisms on earth, their interactions, and the interaction
with the physical environment (soil, water, air). Human beings can be considered to be part
89
score of 10. Again, neither the critical theory nor the participation paradigms scored
any points.
3.4.1.1 Knowledge Generation
Positivism
Several explanations exist for the dominance of positivism, the first of which relates
directly to the subject matter at hand. Green and ecological infrastructures fit neatly
within the natural sciences, especially when it comes to the notion of biodiversity.
For instance, Respondent 1, who is a municipal engineer, coined his understanding
of the concept ‘green infrastructure’ by considering biodiversity and its function in
retaining flood water. He remarked that: ‘There [in the retention ponds] you have all
your various grasses. This is what the environmental people like and there is lots of
biodiversity, but it also functions as a storage place for the storm flow’.
Respondent 3, a researcher from the UKZN, who works closely with eThekwini
on green infrastructure matters, said that she had been grappling with the green
infrastructure concept quite a lot until she had a conversation with a colleague who
was busy with research on food security. This colleague remarked to her that he had,
‘in the last ten years been framing things around ecosystem services, biodiversity
and the ecological infrastructure’. Furthermore, she said that:
eThekwini is very good in understanding the difference between biodiversity, ecosystem
services and ecological infrastructure. Biodiversity is part of that [ecological infrastructure],
but it is also different from it. So, I am linking to those…terms and I add green infrastructure.
Then it becomes…another kind of framing.
Respondent 9, a municipal official, was very explicit when I asked about her
understanding of the ‘green infrastructure’ concept. She indicated that she worked
within the ‘biodiversity department’, and that ‘the department has the function to
protect biodiversity and, for me, that biodiversity is our [ecological infrastructure]’.
When asked about the municipality’s policies, plans and bylaws, the opinion
of Respondent 10, a researcher from the INR, was that: ‘I think the intention is
around biodiversity conservation…in terms of their mandate under Section 24 of
the Constitution, where people have the right to a clean environment’. Respondent
16, another municipal official who works closely with biodiversity matters, had the
following to say: ‘Then there is the biodiversity theme, which is also a very good
example of policy [constituting green infrastructure initiatives]’.
Biodiversity
With respect to the concept of ‘biodiversity’, Slootweg (2005:37) noted that scientists
treat it as an ‘uncomplicated concept’ and as ‘a visible reality that surrounds and
supports us’. Slootweg’s (2005: 37) understanding is that:
Biodiversity encompasses all living organisms on earth, their interactions, and the interaction
with the physical environment (soil, water, air). Human beings can be considered to be part