Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for Tshwane - BEST

What is BEST practice?

The BEST project monitors the survival of native plant palettes in urban contexts, and explores to what degree these native plants contribute to biodiversity, sense of place and food production. The programme has implemented two projects thus far: one project (200 sqm patch area) is part of the Future Africa Research Complex on the University of Pretoria experimental farm in October 2018; the second project (100 sqm patch area) is part of the Javett Art Centre and Mapungubwe Collection Museum on Lynnwood street in January 2019. These two projects have typical urban conditions of small patch sizes that are fairly isolated.

The aim of the projects is to clarify the degree to which size, selection and combination of native species can lead to the development of low risk planting palettes with pre-identified survival, sense of place, maintenance and biodiversity outcomes. In line with previous research findings by the author, the research aims to answer two questions: How to select native vegetation in urban contexts to increase local biodiversity and contribute to: a) intangible cultural services of sense of place b) tangible provisioning services such as edible plants and medicinal plants.

In cooperation with plant growers, plants were selected for the two biodiversity gardens in 2017-2018, consisting of native and near native species of the Tshwane region that could be sourced, monitored and tested. In addition the group identified several indicators for measurement: 1. Soil moisture (ecosystem function) 2. Soil organic matter (ecosystem function) 3. Plant health/ performance (survival and practicality): general growth and health; tolerant against extreme temperature and moisture; procreation (seed and vegetative production) 4. Insect diversity and abundance (biodiversity) 5. User + client + caretaker + expert perceptions (sense of place) 6. Any maintenance/ interference (self-sufficiency and resilience)

This project is funded by the NRF and the UP RDP programme.

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