Three African cities have been selected to participate in a CAD29 million three-year climate adaptation project.
The Scaling Urban Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa (Suncasa) project plans to implement watershed restoration and adaptation measures to reduce climate-fuelled flooding in Johannesburg, South Africa; Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; and Kigali, Rwanda.
Engineering News reports that Suncasa – a joint initiative by the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the World Resources Institute – will visit more than 2 million people living in high-flood-risk areas and will indirectly benefit about 7 million residents in the three cities. It is funded by through Global Affairs Canada’s Partnering for Climate programme.
The nature-based solutions to be implemented in Johannesburg include the removal of alien invasive species, afforestation, reforestation and the restoration of riverbanks along the Jukskei river to reduce flood risk and increase water quality.
‘Through the protection and restoration of ecosystems, we can address flood risk across the city while enhancing water quality, preserving critical habitats, and safeguarding ecological integrity for generations to come,’ says Johannesburg executive mayor Kabelo Gwamanda.
