Nature, biodiversity and health



ABOUT
ICLEI Africa’s Biodiversity, Nature and Health team focuses on supporting African cities by mainstreaming biodiversity into urban processes and decision-making. Our cities and regions improve human health and well-being by connecting urban communities with nature.
Africa has a very rich biodiversity, comprising approximately a quarter of global biodiversity, and including eight of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots. While there are many biodiversity conservation and innovations successes in Africa, its biodiversity is threatened by a diverse range of complex issues, which create immense challenges in reconciling human wellbeing with environmental and economic prosperity.
Supporting local leaders to apply sustainable governance practices and advocate for multilevel governance in the negotiation and implementation of the United Nations Conventions also forms an important part of this workstream’s role as they work towards ensuring a sustainable urban future in harmony with nature.
This workstream covers:
Local biodiversity action for nature positive development
Biodiversity finance
Nature’s contributions to people
Urban nature-based solutions
Ecosystem restoration
Local biodiversity action for nature positive development
Mainstreaming biodiversity and ecosystem services into multi-level decision making
Human rights based approach
The team
Due to the broad portfolio of this workstream, the Urban Systems Centre is comprised of a diverse, dynamic team of professionals ranging from planners, engineers, social scientists, food systems and transport experts to water sanitation professionals, circularity specialists, and human rights and legal experts.

Ingrid Coetzee
Director: Biodiversity, Nature & Health

Ursula Wellmann
Manager: Biodiversity & Nature

Dr Funmi Adeniyi
Manager: Rights-Based Approaches

Dr Ernita Flynn
Senior Professional Officer: Social-ecological Systems

Dr Julie Goodness
Senior Professional Officer: Nature-based Development
Julie holds a PhD in Sustainability Science from the Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University and an MESc from Yale University’s School of the Environment, as well as a dual BA. She has over a decade of experience in the environmental science and urban biodiversity, with application to management and governance for sustainability. She has a passion for exploring how actions at the local city-scale can help people to live healthier, happier lives connected to landscapes of ecological integrity. In her other work, she has served as a project manager, editor, and author of the Cities and Biodiversity Outlook, and has been a Fulbright Scholar in Cape Town, where she investigated urban biodiversity management policy, implementation, and best practices.

Ivana Del Rio Benitez Landa
Professional Officer: Biodiversity Advocacy & International Liaison
Ivana has a Double Bachelor Degree in Political Science and International Relations from the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP). She has four years of experience in sustainable development policy, project management and environmental advocacy at the local level. She actively participates in research and innovation for the analysis of public policies that contributes to social change. She has a passion for work related to nature-based solutions, climate change, multilevel governance, activism and gender mainstreaming.

Laura Louw
Professional Officer: Biodiversity Advocacy & International Liaison
Laura is interested in nature conservation, food production, social responsibility, International politics and maps. She has a Master of Science in Geography with 10 years of experience in project management and coordination, fundraising and sales, brand building, communications and marketing.

Bongiwe Simka
Professional Officer: Urban Nature & Nature-based Solutions

Amina Omar Elsherif
Professional Officer: Biodiversity & Nature-based Solutions
Amina holds a BSc Honours degree in Environmental Architecture and Urbanism from the Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University in Cairo, with a dual degree from the University of East London. She is also about to finalise her MEng degree on the topic of Resource Efficient Cities, with a specific focus on the Biophilic Urbanism approach. With over four years of experience in the field of sustainable urban planning and green building practices, she is a certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Associate from the US Green Building Council, and has also worked as a visual communication designer. Amina is passionate about sustainable urban development, biodiversity and nature-based solutions.

Jade Sullivan
Professional Officer: Biodiversity, Nature & Health

Nikara Mahadeo
Professional Officer: Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions

Ingrid Coetzee
Director: Biodiversity, Nature & Health
Ingrid Coetzee
Director: Biodiversity, Nature & Health

Ursula Wellmann
Manager: Biodiversity & Nature
Ursula Wellmann
Manager: Biodiversity & Nature

Dr Funmi Adeniyi
Manager: Rights-Based Approaches
Dr Funmi Adeniyi
Manager: Rights-Based Approaches

Dr Ernita Flynn
Senior Professional Officer: Social-ecological Systems
Dr Ernita Flynn
Senior Professional Officer: Social-ecological Systems

Dr Julie Goodness
Senior Professional Officer: Nature-based Development
Dr Julie Goodness
Senior Professional Officer: Nature-based Development
Julie holds a PhD in Sustainability Science from the Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University and an MESc from Yale University’s School of the Environment, as well as a dual BA. She has over a decade of experience in the environmental science and urban biodiversity, with application to management and governance for sustainability. She has a passion for exploring how actions at the local city-scale can help people to live healthier, happier lives connected to landscapes of ecological integrity. In her other work, she has served as a project manager, editor, and author of the Cities and Biodiversity Outlook, and has been a Fulbright Scholar in Cape Town, where she investigated urban biodiversity management policy, implementation, and best practices.

Ivana Del Rio Benitez Landa
Professional Officer: Biodiversity Advocacy & International Liaison
Ivana Del Rio Benitez Landa
Professional Officer: Biodiversity Advocacy & International Liaison
Ivana has a Double Bachelor Degree in Political Science and International Relations from the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP). She has four years of experience in sustainable development policy, project management and environmental advocacy at the local level. She actively participates in research and innovation for the analysis of public policies that contributes to social change. She has a passion for work related to nature-based solutions, climate change, multilevel governance, activism and gender mainstreaming.

Laura Louw
Professional Officer: Biodiversity Advocacy & International Liaison
Laura Louw
Professional Officer: Biodiversity Advocacy & International Liaison
Laura is interested in nature conservation, food production, social responsibility, International politics and maps. She has a Master of Science in Geography with 10 years of experience in project management and coordination, fundraising and sales, brand building, communications and marketing.

Bongiwe Simka
Professional Officer: Urban Nature & Nature-based Solutions
Bongiwe Simka
Professional Officer: Urban Nature & Nature-based Solutions

Amina Omar Elsherif
Professional Officer: Biodiversity & Nature-based Solutions
Amina Omar Elsherif
Professional Officer: Biodiversity & Nature-based Solutions
Amina holds a BSc Honours degree in Environmental Architecture and Urbanism from the Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University in Cairo, with a dual degree from the University of East London. She is also about to finalise her MEng degree on the topic of Resource Efficient Cities, with a specific focus on the Biophilic Urbanism approach. With over four years of experience in the field of sustainable urban planning and green building practices, she is a certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Associate from the US Green Building Council, and has also worked as a visual communication designer. Amina is passionate about sustainable urban development, biodiversity and nature-based solutions.

Jade Sullivan
Professional Officer: Biodiversity, Nature & Health
Jade Sullivan
Professional Officer: Biodiversity, Nature & Health

Nikara Mahadeo
Professional Officer: Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions
Nikara Mahadeo
Professional Officer: Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions
Workstream resources

The value of wetlands for cities

Addressing Informality for equitable urban resilience

Biodiversity Finance Handbook

UNA Resilience in action: A project impact overview

Advancing the Implementation of Nature-based Solutions: The influence of language in showcasing Africa's efforts

The value of urban nature in cities, as told by our cities
Workstream projects

Building resilience through urban natural assets

Water Security Strategy for Johannesburg

Protecting coastal zones as urban natural assets
Workstream news updates

20 November 2023
Urban Africa will be advocating for accelerated action at COP28

8 November 2023
Creative youth-led vision unveiled
