Play ‘We want to see growth’ too- Why Tonnetta Graham isn’t worried about Philly hipsters moving into her by AC Legrand on audio.com and discover something new. Listen tracks or upload your own audio files for free.

Play ‘Gentrified’ series draws out stories about changing relationships across Philly by AC Legrand on audio.com and discover something new. Listen tracks or upload your own audio files for free.

Colonialism is a significant legacy across most aspects of urban form, the nature and distribution of public green spaces, and tree species composition in many cities of the Global South. However, the legacy effects of colonialism on urban green infrastructure and the uses thereof have only recently come under scrutiny. Here we collate information from South Africa on urban greening and interpret it through a colonial and apartheid legacy lens in relation to the distribution and types of urban nature found and their resonance with contemporary needs as an African country. The analysis indicates marked inequalities in public green space distribution and quality between neighborhoods designated for different race groups during the colonial and apartheid periods, which continues to be reproduced by the post-colonial (and post-apartheid) state. Additionally, in the older, former colonial neighborhoods non-native tree species dominate in parks and streets, with most of the species having been introduced during the colonial period. Such colonial introductions have left a burdensome legacy of invasive species that costs billions of Rands annually to keep in check. Lastly, the forms of nature and activities provided in public urban green spaces remains reminiscent of the colonial norm, with little recognition of African worldviews, identity and needs. We conclude in emphasizing the necessity for urban authorities and planners to address these anachronistic legacies through adoptin...

Learn about one of the most important periods in history in our British Empire facts. How big was the British Empire? When and why did it rise and fall…?