144
3 eThekwini’s Green and Ecological Infrastructure Policy Landscape
programme to create training and employment opportunities that help in the management of environmentally important areas. The aim is to achieve the self-sufficiency
of communities (i.e. poverty alleviation) (WESSA 2020b) and to allow communities to be more adaptable to natural disasters that may occur in the future, due
to climate change. WESSA is the implementing agent of the initiative (eThekwini
Metropolitan Municipality 2020a, b), since the programme encompasses a prominent environmental training component. Since WESSA plays this role, the EPCPD
provides guidance with respect to the management and selection of the sites (WESSA
2020b).
Marine science and governance
The collaborative network between the municipality and the local and southern
African epistemic community also includes marine science and governance.
Regarding local epistemic relationships, Durban’s geographical location along
the Indian Ocean coastline informs this epistemic association with Dr. Cathy Sutherland from UKZN (p. 122, 123). Sutherland is a Senior Lecturer at the university’s
School of Built Environment and Development Studies. She is a trained geographer
whose research interest lies ‘…at the interface between social and environmental
systems, with a focus on sustainable development’ (UKZN 2020). Furthermore, her
research interests are concerned with the relationship between society, space and the
environment and how these three aspects shape environmental politics and policymaking (UKZN 2020b). Since she is a geographer working on environmental issues
and their influence on politics and policy-making, the EPCPD sees her as a relevant
epistemic partner in its green and ecological infrastructure programmes and policies.
Sustainable development, which is the theory that underpinns her knowledge, further
strengthens this association. Therefore, the EPCPD and Sutherland are not strange
bed-fellows, so to speak, when it comes to complementing each other’s work.
In the southern African context, Durban is actively involved in the Western Indian
Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA). This organisation was established
as a regional, non-profit membership entity in 1993. It dedicates itself to promoting
the educational, scientific and technological development of all research of marine
science throughout the Western Indian Ocean. WIOMSA consists of 10 countries,
namely, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Comoros, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius and Réunion, and it focuses on the sustainable development, use and conservation of the marine resources in the area. An interest of
WIOMSA is to link the knowledge emerging from research with governance issues
that influence marine and coastal systems (WIOMSA 2020). Since South Africa
is a WIOMSA member, and considering that Durban is located along the Indian
Ocean coastline, it is logical that eThekwini would be involved in WIOMSA activities (p. 123). In addition, WIOMSA’s philosophy of sustainable development links
it with, and possibly informs, Durban’s vision of sustainable marine development
matters.
An inextricable link exists between freshwater security and the marine environment. Since Durban is located along the Indian Ocean, storm-water systems carry
solid waste and sewage pollution into the sea during storm events. The waste not only
3 eThekwini’s Green and Ecological Infrastructure Policy Landscape
programme to create training and employment opportunities that help in the management of environmentally important areas. The aim is to achieve the self-sufficiency
of communities (i.e. poverty alleviation) (WESSA 2020b) and to allow communities to be more adaptable to natural disasters that may occur in the future, due
to climate change. WESSA is the implementing agent of the initiative (eThekwini
Metropolitan Municipality 2020a, b), since the programme encompasses a prominent environmental training component. Since WESSA plays this role, the EPCPD
provides guidance with respect to the management and selection of the sites (WESSA
2020b).
Marine science and governance
The collaborative network between the municipality and the local and southern
African epistemic community also includes marine science and governance.
Regarding local epistemic relationships, Durban’s geographical location along
the Indian Ocean coastline informs this epistemic association with Dr. Cathy Sutherland from UKZN (p. 122, 123). Sutherland is a Senior Lecturer at the university’s
School of Built Environment and Development Studies. She is a trained geographer
whose research interest lies ‘…at the interface between social and environmental
systems, with a focus on sustainable development’ (UKZN 2020). Furthermore, her
research interests are concerned with the relationship between society, space and the
environment and how these three aspects shape environmental politics and policymaking (UKZN 2020b). Since she is a geographer working on environmental issues
and their influence on politics and policy-making, the EPCPD sees her as a relevant
epistemic partner in its green and ecological infrastructure programmes and policies.
Sustainable development, which is the theory that underpinns her knowledge, further
strengthens this association. Therefore, the EPCPD and Sutherland are not strange
bed-fellows, so to speak, when it comes to complementing each other’s work.
In the southern African context, Durban is actively involved in the Western Indian
Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA). This organisation was established
as a regional, non-profit membership entity in 1993. It dedicates itself to promoting
the educational, scientific and technological development of all research of marine
science throughout the Western Indian Ocean. WIOMSA consists of 10 countries,
namely, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Comoros, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius and Réunion, and it focuses on the sustainable development, use and conservation of the marine resources in the area. An interest of
WIOMSA is to link the knowledge emerging from research with governance issues
that influence marine and coastal systems (WIOMSA 2020). Since South Africa
is a WIOMSA member, and considering that Durban is located along the Indian
Ocean coastline, it is logical that eThekwini would be involved in WIOMSA activities (p. 123). In addition, WIOMSA’s philosophy of sustainable development links
it with, and possibly informs, Durban’s vision of sustainable marine development
matters.
An inextricable link exists between freshwater security and the marine environment. Since Durban is located along the Indian Ocean, storm-water systems carry
solid waste and sewage pollution into the sea during storm events. The waste not only