A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Whose city? Whose nature? Towards inclusive nature-based solution governance
Abstract Nature-based solutions have recently been embraced as one route towards simultaneously addressing urban environmental and social problems, but an emerging agenda has sought to ask whether and how the ‘greening’ of cities may actually reinforce inequalities or lead to new forms of social exclusion. Using comparative case-study analysis, this paper examines the extent to which nature-driven stewardship initiatives recognize and redress inequalities. We compare two urban contexts that have undergone significant societal transformations over the last two to three decades: Sofia and Cape Town. The comparison shows how nature-driven stewardship initiatives differentially address deeper roots of environmental, social and racial privilege shaped significantly by post-socialist and post-apartheid transition contexts. Instead of assuming a homogenous ideal of urban nature and focusing on questions of the distribution of urban nature and its access, this paper finds it is important to consider the kinds of social relations that are required to both shape decision-making processes and generate meaningful and diverse values and ways of relating to nature in the city. Furthermore, it finds that inclusive nature-based solution governance recognizes and redresses both inequalities in access and inequalities that perpetuate dominant views about what nature is and for whom nature is produced and maintained.
Highlights The greening of cities may reinforce inequalities or lead to new social exclusion. Stewardship programs embody particular understandings of nature. Inclusive nature-based solution governance recognizes and redresses inequalities. Inequalities relate to access and dominant views about what nature is, and for whom. Inclusive governance integrates diverse perspectives on value of socio-natures.
Whose city? Whose nature? Towards inclusive nature-based solution governance
Abstract Nature-based solutions have recently been embraced as one route towards simultaneously addressing urban environmental and social problems, but an emerging agenda has sought to ask whether and how the ‘greening’ of cities may actually reinforce inequalities or lead to new forms of social exclusion. Using comparative case-study analysis, this paper examines the extent to which nature-driven stewardship initiatives recognize and redress inequalities. We compare two urban contexts that have undergone significant societal transformations over the last two to three decades: Sofia and Cape Town. The comparison shows how nature-driven stewardship initiatives differentially address deeper roots of environmental, social and racial privilege shaped significantly by post-socialist and post-apartheid transition contexts. Instead of assuming a homogenous ideal of urban nature and focusing on questions of the distribution of urban nature and its access, this paper finds it is important to consider the kinds of social relations that are required to both shape decision-making processes and generate meaningful and diverse values and ways of relating to nature in the city. Furthermore, it finds that inclusive nature-based solution governance recognizes and redresses both inequalities in access and inequalities that perpetuate dominant views about what nature is and for whom nature is produced and maintained.
Highlights The greening of cities may reinforce inequalities or lead to new social exclusion. Stewardship programs embody particular understandings of nature. Inclusive nature-based solution governance recognizes and redresses inequalities. Inequalities relate to access and dominant views about what nature is, and for whom. Inclusive governance integrates diverse perspectives on value of socio-natures.
Whose city? Whose nature? Towards inclusive nature-based solution governance
Tozer, Laura (author) / Hörschelmann, Kathrin (author) / Anguelovski, Isabelle (author) / Bulkeley, Harriet (author) / Lazova, Yuliana (author)
Cities ; 107
2020-07-22
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Nature , Urban , Governance , Stewardship , Inequality , Inclusive , Cities in transition
Whose city? Whose nature? Towards inclusive nature-based solution governance
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