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Nature in Built Space in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Nature in the Built Environment
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Abstract

There are many political, economic, social, technological, ecological, cultural and historical (PESTECH) factors affecting efforts to promote nature in built space in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Because of its checkered history, especially as it concerns colonialism, the region’s policies are heavily influenced by historical factors. This is particularly the case with policies relating to nature in built space, which are a subset of urban or town planning policies bequeathed to indigenous authorities by departing colonial masters. This chapter highlights the traces of colonialism not only in its treatment of the historical factors but also in its analysis of the political, economic and technological contexts of efforts to promote nature in built space. In doing so, the chapter demonstrates the intensity of colonial influence on urban and peri-urban forestry, and farming, water supply and energy in the built environment in SSA.

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Njoh, A.J. (2020). Nature in Built Space in Sub-Saharan Africa. In: Nature in the Built Environment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39759-3_3

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