Urbanisation continues unabated with a stronger impetus in developing countries. According to Kobie Brand of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) in Cape Town, “With more than 60% of the world projected to be urban by 2030 why not prepare for it and build cities that include biodiversity preservation into planning?”

However, the existence of ICLEI, an association of the world’s cities that are committed to sustainable urban development, suggests that the value of greening urban centres is gaining ground. It was founded in 1990 when more than 200 governments from 43 countries convened at the UN head offices in New York. It is the leading association of 12 mega-cities, 100 super cities and urban regions, 450 large cities as well as 450 small- and medium-sized cities and town in 84 countries. ICLEI’s Cities Biodiversity Centre in Cape Town works closely with the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

A report released at the CoP11 Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) which concluded on October 19 in Hyderabad, India, shows that global urbanisation will have implications for biodiversity and ecosystems if current trends continue with knock-on effects on human health and development. This report is the world’s first global analysis of how projected patterns of urban expansion would impact biodiversity and crucial ecosystems.

The report was compiled with contributions from more than 120 scientists worldwide. It states that more than 60% of land that will become urban by 2030 and which will comprise less than 2% of the earth’s surface, must still be built.Prof. Thomas Elmqvist of the Stockholm Resilience Centre and scientificeditor of the report, believes that this will create an opportunity for low-carbon, resource-efficient urban development.

“Cities need to learn how to better protect and enhance biodiversity, because rich biodiversity can exist in cities and is extremely critical to people’s health.”

Cities can indeed create hubs for biodiversity maintenance and this includes domestic gardens. A study performed in Sheffield in Britain found that 4 000 different species of invertebrates, 80 lichen species and more than 1 000 plant species thrived in the gardens in this city. One can only imagine the diversity that must exist in Johannesburg. The city has more than 10 million trees and is the largest man-made urban forest in the world. Of course, it is not only biodiversity that is important, healthy soils filter water and trees absorb pollution and carbon dioxide, cleaning the air.

However, India, the host country of CoP11 has its misgivings on the so-called positive outlook on urbanisation. Ashish Kothari, an Indian environmental activist says that “Unless fundamental changes are made to the current development paradigm, urban areas will continue to see huge migration and India is an example. Very little is being done to regenerate villages and where this is done, migrants have returned home from the cities. Even small things, like efficient vehicle parking, need to be better managed to make urban centres sustainable.”

New Delhi, India’s capital, and Mumbai, the country’s main business hub, have been ranked 58 and 52 respectively among 95 cities worldwide by a UN Habitat report released this week. Poor environmental conditions and pollution are some of the major reasons for their low ranking.India, experiencing massive urbanisation currently, expects its urban population to jump from the present 30 to 50% by 2044. The country currently holds around 11% of the world’s population but by 2031, this will stand at 15% with 600 million citizen residing in urban areas.

Urging local governments to understand better the role of ecosystem services in urban planning, Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Programme, emphasises that large and small urban groups depend on ecosystem services for their food, water and health.

“With environment and development traded off against each other, one-third of the population could soon be living in water-stressed areas.” In South Africa, Durban and Cape Town have to start recycling water if they want to secure their water supplies in the coming decade. Some experts have put the deadline to within two years. So this problem is certainly a global one. But resources are under threat and this contributes to scarcity. According to the report, the world lost half of its wetlands in the 1900s.

Wetlands do not just manage pollution but promote better health in many ways and coastal cities in Asia are particularly under great pressure from livelihood demands. Marine coastal areas are seen as a waste area and encroached into for various livelihood sources. Development and livelihood priorities have to be balanced with wetland health.

On the African continent, the challenge is great. The continent’s cities, says KPMG South Africa will grow at a rate of 3.5 (267%) times the global average (94%) over the next 35 years and by 2050, 70 of these cities will have a population higher than a million people. According to the head of KPMG’s Global Centre of Excellence for Cities leader, David O’Brien, “In the developing world, the urban population is expected to jump by more than 1.3 billion over the next two decades, with each new entrant seeking better employment opportunities and a higher quality of living. This is most predominant in China, India and Africa.”