We mapped green spaces in South Africa and found a legacy of apartheid

This article maps and assesses the distribution of urban green spaces across South African cities, revealing that the legacy of apartheid continues to influence access to trees, parks, and vegetation. Using satellite imagery and census data, the authors found that predominantly white and higher-income neighbourhoods generally have greater access to green infrastructure than predominantly Black, Coloured, and Indian communities. The study further argues that these spatial inequalities have changed little since 1994 and highlights the importance of urban green spaces for public health, social well-being, climate resilience, and environmental justice, calling for urban greening to be integrated into broader efforts to address inequality and promote sustainable human settlements in South Africa.

Abstarct based on original source.