Abstract
Ecological considerations should be an integral part of the decision-making processes of urban planners. Specifically, ecological aspects used in urban ecology, such as green infrastructure and ecosystem services, are substantiated by literature as strategies for improving quality of life, human health, and well-being. Studies dealing with such concepts in the Global South recently gained interest; however, these lack empirical evidence on the integration thereof in mainstream South African urban planning practice. This article conducts a preliminary investigation into the knowledge of ecological aspects of a sample of South African urban planners and their willingness to implement ecological aspects in urban planning practice. The new environmental paradigm scale is employed to determine the environmental worldview (ecocentric or anthropocentric) among respondent and how this relates to their knowledge of ecological aspects. The initial research sample consisted of a total of 283 questionnaires distributed. Although findings of this article are based on a low response rate (15%) of 42 documented responses, it did not affect the validity of the data collected in this context. The initial findings indicated that the environmental worldview of the sample of planners is only one factor influencing their perspective on incorporating ecological considerations. Low to moderate knowledge and awareness regarding ecological aspects such as ecosystem services, green infrastructure, and multi-functionality are argued to be main factors preventing integration in urban planning practice. Findings emphasize the need for context-based implementation strategies and broad recommendations are made for the planning profession as a point of departure to introduce or ingrain ecological considerations.
Highlights
Scientific understanding and support for the potential of more ecologically‐minded approaches to address mul‐ tiple issues faced by urban areas are gaining momen‐ tum in multiple disciplines (Escobedo et al, 2011)
It must be noted that the planning profession in South African is still emerging and given its relative size has been classified as a “scarce skill” (Andres et al, 2018)
If planners in public and private sectors indicated different challenges encountered in the application of ecological considerations in planning practice
Summary
These include a focus on natural areas in urban open space planning through Systematic conservation planning (Compaan et al, 2017) and the use of metropolitan open space systems (Boon et al, 2016), urban biodiversity corridors (Burton et al, 2017), 500 buildings with Green Star South Africa ratings by the Green Building Council South Africa (Simpeh et al, 2021), examples of GI applications such as the green growth concept integrating energy and climate change issues (Bobbins & Culwick, 2015), the development of cli‐ mate adaptation plans to develop climate resilient cities (Roberts et al, 2012), water‐sensitive urban planning and design (Fisher‐Jeffes et al, 2017), efforts to enhance water resilience (Sutherland et al, 2019), urban agri‐ cultural practices (Steenkamp et al, 2021), and specific examples of local‐level planning actions targeting the needs of the poor in terms of urban greening (Sachikonye et al, 2016) Whilst such endeavours show potential, they are rather exceptional and localised, and signifi‐ cant scope exists for broader commitment and applica‐ tion of urban ecological approaches, as is indicative for the entire Global South (Cilliers et al, 2021). Environmental worldviews and their influence on the ecological con‐ siderations and decisions‐making of urban planners in South Africa present specific gaps
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