142
3 eThekwini’s Green and Ecological Infrastructure Policy Landscape
evidence-based policy instruments, such as SEAs, and resource economics investigations (p. 122). Therefore, it has a pool of experts on whom it can rely to
do such contractual work. This group of experts also extends to the universities, such as the Durban University of Technology (DUT) and the Durban- and
Pietermaritzburg-based UKZN.
eThekwini has institutionalised such a contractual partnership through the DRAP,
which focuses on global environmental change issues, including biodiversity loss and
global climate change, to provide evidence-based research for policy development
and implementation (p. 122). Through UKZN’s flagship programme, the African
City of the Future, Durban has contracted researchers to investigate future scenarios
related to global change matters. DRAP fosters the mutual benefits for the municipality and university, while the municipality gains valuable insights into global
change matters, and the university generates post-graduate studies, which are valuable, from a government subsidy perspective. The research produced by the students
investigates specific matters pertaining to eThekwini’s open spaces as green and
ecological infrastructures. What is noteworthy in Table 3.4, from a natural and social
science philosophy perspective, is that most of the students hail from the university’s
Environmental faculty.
DRAP is not only a partnership between the municipality and UKZN, but also
with the DBSA (p. 122), of which the municipality is a client (DBSA 2020). This
bank has funded the community reforestation programme, which also involves the
African Conservation Trust (ACT) and WESSA.
ACT started its work as a volunteer organisation in 2000, with the vision and aim
of assisting environmental, conservation and heritage efforts in the Southern African
Development Community (SADC). Since 2003, it has focused on South Africa as its
area of operation and has implemented various initiatives, ranging from food security
to erosion control (ACT 2020).
The aim of WESSA is to create ‘…and support high-impact environmental and
conservation projects to promote participation in caring for the earth’ (WESSA
2020a). The organisation focuses much attention on environmental education and
works with schools and teachers, throughout the country, to promote several local
and international programmes that have to do with learning about the environment
and educating learners on how to take environmental action in their own areas.
Sustainable development is the theoretical foundation that underpins WESSA’s work
(WESSA 2020a).
eThekwini, therefore, links itself not only to universities, but also to organisations
that could play a pivotal role in realising its DRAP-inspired initiatives. The identity of
the various organisations involved in the partnership is defined by their role within the
enterprise, with ACT being identified with conservation, food security and heritage,
and WESSA playing the role of an environmental educator.
IPCC and C40
eThekwini’s Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department
(EPCPD) is active in the IPCC (p. 122), with some of its officials having co-authored
sections of the IPCC reports (Revi et al. 2014a, b).
3 eThekwini’s Green and Ecological Infrastructure Policy Landscape
evidence-based policy instruments, such as SEAs, and resource economics investigations (p. 122). Therefore, it has a pool of experts on whom it can rely to
do such contractual work. This group of experts also extends to the universities, such as the Durban University of Technology (DUT) and the Durban- and
Pietermaritzburg-based UKZN.
eThekwini has institutionalised such a contractual partnership through the DRAP,
which focuses on global environmental change issues, including biodiversity loss and
global climate change, to provide evidence-based research for policy development
and implementation (p. 122). Through UKZN’s flagship programme, the African
City of the Future, Durban has contracted researchers to investigate future scenarios
related to global change matters. DRAP fosters the mutual benefits for the municipality and university, while the municipality gains valuable insights into global
change matters, and the university generates post-graduate studies, which are valuable, from a government subsidy perspective. The research produced by the students
investigates specific matters pertaining to eThekwini’s open spaces as green and
ecological infrastructures. What is noteworthy in Table 3.4, from a natural and social
science philosophy perspective, is that most of the students hail from the university’s
Environmental faculty.
DRAP is not only a partnership between the municipality and UKZN, but also
with the DBSA (p. 122), of which the municipality is a client (DBSA 2020). This
bank has funded the community reforestation programme, which also involves the
African Conservation Trust (ACT) and WESSA.
ACT started its work as a volunteer organisation in 2000, with the vision and aim
of assisting environmental, conservation and heritage efforts in the Southern African
Development Community (SADC). Since 2003, it has focused on South Africa as its
area of operation and has implemented various initiatives, ranging from food security
to erosion control (ACT 2020).
The aim of WESSA is to create ‘…and support high-impact environmental and
conservation projects to promote participation in caring for the earth’ (WESSA
2020a). The organisation focuses much attention on environmental education and
works with schools and teachers, throughout the country, to promote several local
and international programmes that have to do with learning about the environment
and educating learners on how to take environmental action in their own areas.
Sustainable development is the theoretical foundation that underpins WESSA’s work
(WESSA 2020a).
eThekwini, therefore, links itself not only to universities, but also to organisations
that could play a pivotal role in realising its DRAP-inspired initiatives. The identity of
the various organisations involved in the partnership is defined by their role within the
enterprise, with ACT being identified with conservation, food security and heritage,
and WESSA playing the role of an environmental educator.
IPCC and C40
eThekwini’s Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department
(EPCPD) is active in the IPCC (p. 122), with some of its officials having co-authored
sections of the IPCC reports (Revi et al. 2014a, b).