Urban Ecology and Sustainability Lab Our research interests centre around understanding how both social and ecological systems adapt or respond to a complex changing environment and an uncertain future.
Urban Ecology and Sustainability Lab Our research interests centre around understanding how both social and ecological systems adapt or respond to a complex changing environment and an uncertain future.
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Urban ecology

Green of Melville koppies with Johannesburg skyline in distance

Our urban ecology work is focused primarily on the ecology and behaviour of mammals in urban and peri-urban Johannesburg, the ecological value of urban ecological corridors and the state of ecosystem services in urban areas, as well as the relationship between people and their surrounding environment. Recent projects include a study on the ecology of otters in the greater Johannesburg area, the identification of possible ecological corridors in the city and their value to wildlife consrvation, the impacts of water contamination on the biology of small mammals, and beliefs and fears of urban residents around wildlife in the city. Current projects include an assessment of the challenges and opportunities associated with biodiversity stewardship programmes in Gauteng.

Sustainability research

Our sustainability research interests relate to aspects of impact and risk assessment as well as the transition to economic, social and environmental resilience in a changing world. After several years of working with business and seeing the challenges to sustainability posed by clashing values and strongly rooted beliefs, our interests in terms of social and economic resilience have now expanded to understanding and engaging with youth perceptions and ideas, specifically around climate change, with several of our postgraduate students having studied the effectiveness of environmental education in South Africa and cultural and economic challenges experienced by the youth in rural areas.

Stream in peri-urban Gauteng
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Scorpion-found-during-boidiversity-assessment
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Suburban Dassie
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