Browsing by Author "Wessels, Nadia"

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    Inclusion of ecosystem services in the management of municipal natural open space systems
    (John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2024) Wessels, Nadia; O'Farrell, Patrick; Sitas, Nadia
    Unprecedented urbanisation in the global south is transforming natural urban landscapes, impacting on the ability of nature to provide essential ecosystem services. Within the context of pressures facing many urban natural open spaces, particularly in Africa, we used a local municipality in South Africa as a case study to (i) identify local government priorities for a natural open space system; (ii) develop an understanding of whether, and how, ecosystem services are considered by local government, and the reasons thereof; and (iii) ascertain the extent of proactive planning regarding regulating and other ecosystem services, including the temporal and spatial scales, and implications. In-depth qualitative interviews (n = 12) were undertaken with senior municipal officials representing departments whose work impacts the environment. Municipal decision-support documents were also analysed for any direct and/or indirect references to ecosystem services. Planning for, and management of, ecosystem services provided by natural open spaces is influenced by interwoven infrastructure, municipal service delivery and equity challenges, complex institutional constraints and poverty, with little focus on the socio-economic opportunities and other benefits of natural open space systems. Values, perceptions and knowledge also influence the management of ecosystem services.