City of Johannesburg

We support the City of Johannesburg secure, promote, enhance and protect natural systems and build resilience towards environmental sustainability for human wellbeing and economic prosperity.

With 4.4 million residents, the City of Johannesburg (COJ) is both South Africa’s largest and most populated city. As it continues to expand, the city is taking proactive steps to become an environmentally sustainable and resilient African city.

The City of Johannesburg wants to protect nature and ecosystem services, improve air quality, raise environmental awareness and better manage water and waste. We are supporting the city to achieve this by drawing on our wide-ranging climate, nature and urban systems expertise.

Through this work, we are gaining a clearer understanding of the challenges facing the city and cities like it. This co-learning approach allows us to learn from them as much as they are learning from us. We share these learnings during monthly co-learning sessions and the co-production of plans, strategies, tools and campaigns.

Project Location

Johannesburg, South Africa

Project Duration

Since 2018

Project Highlights

Successfully reviewed and updated the city’s Local Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (LBSAP) and aligned it with national policy and plans.
As part of the LBSAP, we produced a roadmap for the City for conserving, restoring and managing their natural assets.
During a stakeholder workshop we defined messages and approaches for environmental awareness across the city.
We showcased collaborative planning in action for nature and biodiversity by bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to explore opportunities for mainstreaming nature in development processes.
A framework for urban invasive species is being used to define a range of management approaches and to prioritise species and areas for action.
We are combining a hydrological model with an inclusive stakeholder process to create a robust understanding of the current state of the Juksei catchment’s hydrology and related issues. Once a current state is described, scenario planning will inform the framing of a desired state and objectives for the catchment.

Project aims

Biodiversity strategy

Review and update the city’s Local Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (LBSAP)
Support the city on aligning their LBSAP with South Africa’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and current policies and plans relevant to nature and biodiversity in the city
Bring together internal and external stakeholders to co-develop the strategic nature and biodiversity objectives and action plans of the city for the next five years (2020-2025)

Bioregional plan

Review and update the city’s Bioregional Plan
Undertake thorough, systematic planning process to gather robust data on critical biodiversity areas
Ensure compliance and alignment with current policy and legislation
Incorporate new data and information for the city’s critical biodiversity areas

Ecosystem services assessment

Identify and create awareness about the value of nature to the City of Johannesburg
Use this to advocate for restoring ecosystem services that compliment traditional infrastructures
An economic valuation component will incorporate an economic perspective on the value of CoJ’s ecosystem services
This work aims to inspire willingness to invest in urban nature

Juksei Catchment management

Balance urban development with the provision and restoration of aquatic ecosystem services and adopt an integrated approach to catchment management
Understand the intersection of stormwater, land use and aquatic health considerations within a catchment context

Environmental awareness

Ensure coherent messaging and approaches across the various departments and entities
Leverage this to improve citizens’ environmental consciousness and actions

Vehicle emissions

Develop a comprehensive Vehicle emissions control strategy
Co-produce an implementation action plan to improve ambient air quality
Make recommendations that extend past the municipal mandate

Waste treatment and disposal

Estimate future waste generation
Develop scenarios for waste management that can treat and dispose of waste in a sustainable way

Alien invasive species

Develop an Alien invasive species monitoring, control and eradication plan in line with requirements of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act
Consider the unique challenges and opportunities for a metropole when addressing the issue of invasive species in an urban context

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Photo Gallery

City of Johannesburg project gallery

With 4.4 million residents, the City of Johannesburg is both South Africa’s largest and most populated city. As it continues to expand, the city is taking proactive steps to become an environmentally sustainable and resilient city in Africa.

The team spent a lot of time deciding on a pilot study area for the Catchment Management Plan. This was at one of those workshops.

Natural features in the Glen Austin region in the City of Johannesburg

The team on a site visit at Kloofendal Nature Reserve

A residential development at Kloofendal Nature Reserve in Roodepoort, Johannesburg

A local cleaning effort along the City's river system

Many areas in the City experience inadequate waste management, which is why it's one of the project's focus areas.

Uncontrolled fires are a common occurrence in the informal areas of the City.

Nature near the City at Kloofendal Nature Reserve in Roodepoort, Johannesburg.

The team on a site visit at Kloofendal Nature Reserve

With 4.4 million residents, the City of Johannesburg is both South Africa’s largest and most populated city. As it continues to expand, the city is taking proactive steps to become an environmentally sustainable and resilient city in Africa.