The City of Cape Town, as a role model city, reaffirmed its commitment to urban ecosystem restoration by hosting the UN Environment Programme‘s GenerationRestoration capacity building workshop last week.
The City has served as a ‘role model city’ for this project since September 2023 and hosted the final in-person workshop from 25 March to 28 March 2025 at the Smart Living Education Centre in Green Point Park, bringing together over 19 international cities.
The organisers, UNEP and ICLEI, will use the workshop outcomes as a contribution to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, drawing from the expertise and experience of Generation Restoration cities.
A diverse group of participants attended the workshop – from individuals at the mid- to senior-technical levels with experience in urban planning, biodiversity conservation, landscape architecture and related fields, to professionals in infrastructure development. Among the attendees were 60 representatives from various pilot cities and role model cities, along with representatives from UNEP, ICLEI, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, knowledge and technical assistance partners, and donors.
‘Team Cape Town is committed to preserving and enhancing the natural environment within and around our city’s urban area. This initiative aligns with our vision for a sustainable and resilient future. We know that all around the world more and more people are relocating to cities in search of better lives and opportunities. This mass migration means we have a collective responsibility to ensure we do all we can to protect and preserve our precious natural resources and assets,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
Sharon Gil, Cities Lead, Climate Change Division at UNEP added: ‘This workshop is a big step in reshaping how cities interact with nature. By bringing together experts from local governments, universities, civil society, and global organisations, we’re building the knowledge and networks to make nature a key part of urban planning. Cape Town’s leadership shows that cities can lead the way in restoring ecosystems and creating a more sustainable, resilient future.’
‘Cities are at the forefront in tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis. This was evident in the workshop where cities from around the world showcased their actions to restore ecosystems. As a city located in a biodiversity hotspot, Cape Town’s vision for its unique natural assets are a great example of how cities can contribute to global biodiversity targets and enhance climate resilience,’ said Ingrid Coetzee, Director: Biodiversity, Nature and Health, ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Centre.
