In Cape Town, local communities are actively partnering with the city government, academic institutions and international organisations to restore degraded urban ecosystems, from shoreline dunes to city wetlands, under the umbrella of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Generation Restoration initiative.
Initiatives include weed harvesting machines in wetlands, dune rehabilitation on beaches, and residents co-designing restoration plans from the start, making the work both scientifically grounded and socially inclusive. By doing so, Cape Town is positioning itself as a global role model for how cities can integrate nature-based solutions into urban planning, while fostering resilience, equity and growth.