Green assets and infrastructures

“Green infrastructure is a network of open space, woodlands, wildlife habitat, parks and other natural areas that sustain clean air, water and natural resources and enriches quality of life” (Benedict et al, 2002: 3).

This three year research project involves an assessment of how open spaces, green assets and ecosystems services are being and should be valued, and an analysis of public and private decisions that are shaping green space and ecological structure.

The research project pivots around the fundamental question of whether the GCR and its related municipalities have adequately appreciated and valued green infrastructure within their planning processes. This is addressed through a series of focused case studies of different green infrastructure components, inter alia, food gardens, urban forests and open spaces, to consider what is needed to adequately value this infrastructure from an ecosystem service perspective. 

It is envisaged that this project will be conducted as a benchmarking study with other city-regions' green assets and valuation practices in other parts of the world. The project objectives are to:

• Identify the green infrastructure components that exist within GCR and assess the current state of this infrastructure
• Assess the extent to which, and how, green infrastructure within the GCR is being valued by government
• Investigate how best to value green infrastructure from an ecosystem services perspective
• Analyze the role of non-government players in building and protecting green infrastructure in the city-region; and
• Evaluate the economic, social and ecological impacts of green infrastructure projects undertaken in the GCR, including government, university, community-based, and private sector projects.

The project deliverables include a series of policy and academic outputs over a three-year period. Key policy outputs will include:

• 'A State of Green Infrastructure' report: using primary data from an exercise, “Digital spatial data collection for green spaces in Gauteng” to assessing the condition of green infrastructure and the state of green infrastructure planning in the city-region;
• A methodological framework for valuing ecosystems services in a GCR municipal context; 
• A Green infrastructure plan for the GCR.

Work on this project has started with the appointment of a service provider to collect all available digital-spatial data on green assets across the GCR. Data, to be received by April 2012, will provide the baseline analysis for the first major policy output, a 'State of Green Infrastructure' assessment, due to be completed in late 2012. 

Two members of the project team will also embark on a USA research visit to Virginia Tech in Washington D.C. to conduct a study tour of green infrastructure projects. The team will visit a team of researchers at the College of Natural Resources and Environment, and Department of Urban Affairs and Planning at Virginia Tech. Virginia’s research into the policy dimensions of green infrastructure makes for interesting comparative work for the GCRO’s ongoing engagement with Gauteng Provincial Government.

Green assets and infrastructure project proposal: January 2012 [Download PDF]