Browsing by Author "Mistry, Anjali"
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- ItemThe 'eco-ness' of eco-estates in South Africa(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-04) Mistry, Anjali; Spocter, Manfred; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Geography & Environmental Studies.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is widely acknowledged that a need exists to live in harmony with nature to attain a just balance between the social, economic and environmental needs of present and future generations. The need to consider alternative and sustainable forms of residential development that are in harmony with nature is vital. Gated communities have become a popular form of residential housing across the South African landscape. In response to this popularity a niche market eco-estates – has emerged as a type of ‘green’ lifestyle estate in South Africa. Since eco-estates are purpose-built to be sustainable, an investigation of these eco-developments is called for, especially regarding future generations attaining the vision of living in harmony with nature. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study aimed to investigate whether estates that are branded as eco-estates are different to those described in their marketing material as being eco-friendly. The five objectives were to provide a literature review of the relevant literature; to do a locational analysis of eco-estates and eco-friendly estates in South Africa; to determine whether eco-estates and eco-friendly estates are located contiguously with existing conservation areas; to investigate the degree to which eco-estates and eco-friendly estates contribute to greening interventions; and to create a categorisation of eco-estates and eco-friendly estates. The results indicate that these estates require wide, open spaces to ensure their success and are therefore located on urban peripheries or in smaller towns or secondary cities where ample space is available. The estates were found to be located adjacent to some type of protected area or next to another eco-estate. However, the objective of creating contiguous protected areas was often distorted due to the presence of walls, boundaries and fences where security precautions override conservation priorities. All the estates studied were found to adopt some kind of green intervention related to energy, water and waste. However, very few of the estates have made these practices mandatory, thus making their eco-ness and sustainability questionable. The study proposed a categorisation of eco-estates in South Africa which places these developments on a continuum ranging from a true eco-estate to lower forms of eco-estates. In essence, while these estates are branded similarly, there is a fundamental difference between the two. Security is the major priority for both eco-estates and eco-friendly estates, followed by conservation priorities. It is recommended that there is a need for a suitable definition of eco-estates a legislative framework to guide new eco-developments to be successful. Developers, government officials and planners will have to cooperate in creating a developmental framework for eco-estates. Eco-estates are an alternative form of development which is better than conventional developments in facilitating living in harmony with nature. However, they will only be successful if developed according to the true notions of sustainable development and in a just manner.