MARCH 2016 | VELD & FLORA 26 FOREST CONSERVATION IN A CHANGING CLIMATE: REFLECTIONS FROM KWAZULU-NATAL BY OLIVIER KAMBAJ, SERSHEN AND SYD RAMDHANI, SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES, WESTVILLE CAMPUS, UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL Fruiting Duikerberry (Sclerocroton integerrimus) in Hawaan Forest. Photo by O. Kambaj. URBANISATION AND INDIGENOUS FORESTS Over half of the world’s population resides in cities and this proportion is expected to increase to 60% by 2030 and 70% by 2050, according to reports by the United Nations. Urbanisation is taking place at an alarming rate, placing pressure on urban green space. Recognised as key components of sustainable cities, urban green spaces ofer socio-economic, ecological and aesthetic benefts. In most parts of the African continent, there is a lack of awareness on how to interact optimally with urban green spaces while maximising their benefts. There is a need to identify urban green space for conservation under various climate change scenarios in South Africa’s rapidly developing cities. Present-day policy makers can no longer ignore the valuable role of green spaces in urban environments and this has resulted in the promotion of green space in conservation management.