1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
The overall aim of the programme is to make Durban more resilient to existing and future climate challenges as it is a city that has been exposed severely to climatic changes. In this sense the goals of the intervention are the following:
1. Protect the city from intense, short rainfall events which could lead to flooding. Green roofs assist in adapting to these impacts, by reducing the temperatures of buildings, reducing the ‘heat island effect’, and attenuating stormwater run-off flooding that results from the hardening of permeable surfaces in the city. (1,2)
2. Potentially play an important role in mitigating climate change, by lowering the temperature of buildings and therefore reducing the use of air conditioners that utilise electricity. (3)
3. Provide mutual benefits in terms of biodiversity enhancement and climate regulation. (3)
4. Establish a good environmental practice as at the time of its creation the GRPP was a novelty in South Africa and in Durban. One of the objectives of the GRPP is to better understand how to create these green rooftop habitats in Durban and elsewhere by using local resources. (2)
1. Protect the city from intense, short rainfall events which could lead to flooding. Green roofs assist in adapting to these impacts, by reducing the temperatures of buildings, reducing the ‘heat island effect’, and attenuating stormwater run-off flooding that results from the hardening of permeable surfaces in the city. (1,2)
2. Potentially play an important role in mitigating climate change, by lowering the temperature of buildings and therefore reducing the use of air conditioners that utilise electricity. (3)
3. Provide mutual benefits in terms of biodiversity enhancement and climate regulation. (3)
4. Establish a good environmental practice as at the time of its creation the GRPP was a novelty in South Africa and in Durban. One of the objectives of the GRPP is to better understand how to create these green rooftop habitats in Durban and elsewhere by using local resources. (2)
Quantitative targets
Creating a green area of 550 sqm on top of a concrete building of which 10 sqm were planted with vegetables and herbs
Planting 81 species of plants
Installing 8 pan trays to attract insects
Installing an unknown number of temperature probes to measure air temperature fluctuations (2)
Reducing the surface temperature of the building by +/- 30° C (4)
Planting 81 species of plants
Installing 8 pan trays to attract insects
Installing an unknown number of temperature probes to measure air temperature fluctuations (2)
Reducing the surface temperature of the building by +/- 30° C (4)
Monitoring indicators defined
Number of species and plants
Amount of area covered
Number of plants needed
Number of years the roof life can be extended (2)
Amount of area covered
Number of plants needed
Number of years the roof life can be extended (2)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Climate change mitigation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Please specify "other Habitats and biodiversity conservation activity"
The project also targeted the use of plant species that adapt well to different climate scenarios and the effects of climate change.
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Implementation activities
The project was initiated in 2008 by eThekwini Municipality’s Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department (EPCPD) and is still ongoing.The GRPP is situated on the roof of a building in the City Engineers Complex at 166 KE Masinga Road (Old Fort Road), Durban. The roof was selected for the GRPP for the following reasons:
-It is a flat roof with easy access.
-The roof is highly visible to those that visit the City Engineers Complex.
The carrying capacity of the roof was assessed by a structural engineer and found to be suitable for the project.
The GRPP was divided into three areas: areas where a direct green roof system was used; areas where a modular green roof system was used; and control areas. A structural engineer determined the carrying capacity of the roof selected. The loading capacity of the roof was estimated to be between 100-150kg per m2. A number of plants were selected and planted. Monitoring started as early as late 2009 (2)
-It is a flat roof with easy access.
-The roof is highly visible to those that visit the City Engineers Complex.
The carrying capacity of the roof was assessed by a structural engineer and found to be suitable for the project.
The GRPP was divided into three areas: areas where a direct green roof system was used; areas where a modular green roof system was used; and control areas. A structural engineer determined the carrying capacity of the roof selected. The loading capacity of the roof was estimated to be between 100-150kg per m2. A number of plants were selected and planted. Monitoring started as early as late 2009 (2)
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
The green roof pilot project was the first and only research project undertaken in South Africa (to the date when it was implemented) in which groundbreaking research was undertaken to determine many aspects of green roof design and construction as well as the suitability of a range of local South African plants to be grown in the green roof environment. (5)
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The implementation of the green roof has been a novelty for Durban and South Africa, as the city was the first in 2008-2009 to implement a green roof. (5)
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Following the successful green roof research project another green roof was implemented - known as the biggest green roof project in South Africa using exclusively local indigenous plants at Ixopo KwaZulu-Natal, in 2011. That was followed by the Green Roof Project Sundpumping Station Durban in 2012 (5).
