12/12-2023 Bridging the gap between disciplines to co-create Nature-based Solutions
When & Where: 05 October 2023 Atteridgeville, Pretoria, South Africa
Saving the trees without one to benefit from them. Designing beautiful landscapes without anyone to embrace the beauty. A society not benefitting from the treasures of nature (Hazel Shirinda).
People can learn a lot from nature. Our first team field trip aimed to bridge knowledge gaps between the projects’ three disciplines: social sciences, ecology and landscape architecture. Each discipline was given ten minutes to explore the site and explain what they see through their specific academic lens to give the other disciplines a clearer understanding of their approach. This exercise aimed to integrate our disciplinary perspectives by finding a common understanding and translating our combined research findings into practice.
We collectively learned that gaining a different perspective can help us understand how one element is interconnected and affects the other. For instance, how a bridge can affect the movement of people from point A to B and how the same bridge can negatively affect the habitat of a particular species in the same area.
We aim to co-create nature-based solutions (NBS) and designs that balance nature and socio-economic needs.
After the introduction of each discipline’s approach, we divided up into two interdisciplinary groups to co-develop three interlinked and cross-disciplinary principles for the project:
Opportunities through cross-sectoral collaboration.
Moving forward as an interdisciplinary team, we aim to adopt a holistic, inclusive approach through participatory design and co-creation of places that humans can enjoy whilst protecting nature. We believe that ALL stakeholders' active involvement and participation will help ensure involvement and stewardship of the outcome.
Saving the trees without one to benefit from them. Designing beautiful landscapes without anyone to embrace the beauty. A society not benefitting from the treasures of nature (Hazel Shirinda).
People can learn a lot from nature. Our first team field trip aimed to bridge knowledge gaps between the projects’ three disciplines: social sciences, ecology and landscape architecture. Each discipline was given ten minutes to explore the site and explain what they see through their specific academic lens to give the other disciplines a clearer understanding of their approach. This exercise aimed to integrate our disciplinary perspectives by finding a common understanding and translating our combined research findings into practice.
We collectively learned that gaining a different perspective can help us understand how one element is interconnected and affects the other. For instance, how a bridge can affect the movement of people from point A to B and how the same bridge can negatively affect the habitat of a particular species in the same area.
We aim to co-create nature-based solutions (NBS) and designs that balance nature and socio-economic needs.
After the introduction of each discipline’s approach, we divided up into two interdisciplinary groups to co-develop three interlinked and cross-disciplinary principles for the project:
- We strive to create an awareness of the benefits that nature can provide through the ecology of the study site as a baseline and build from this foundation.
- We need a deeper understanding of the socio-economic needs, people’s perceptions, meanings and values of the space ranging from communities to city authorities. As researchers and designers, we need a local understanding to better grasp how to facilitate improved human-nature relationships.
- We need design solutions nested within these ecological and socio-economic assessments. We must approach the landscape through layered, multi-scale perspectives to co-design NBS that (re)connect humans to their natural environment.
Opportunities through cross-sectoral collaboration.
Moving forward as an interdisciplinary team, we aim to adopt a holistic, inclusive approach through participatory design and co-creation of places that humans can enjoy whilst protecting nature. We believe that ALL stakeholders' active involvement and participation will help ensure involvement and stewardship of the outcome.
The CONSUS team - from left to right, Hazel (ecologist), Kathy (social scientist), Ida (landscape architect), Tania (landscape architect), Kristine (ecologist) and Maya (social scientist).
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Atteridgeville - high biodiversity around the river that separates the green corridor next to the street from the residential area. |