Cities are being asked to rethink their relationships with nature as expectations around nature stewardship evolve globally. The Municipality of eThekwini is an example of a city that has risen to the challenge, and has aimed to transform the ways in which citizens and corporations engage with nature. The Municipality of eThekwini has strengthened its connection with nature through: –Developing a wide range of systems to track and understand nature impacts and risks and codify nature protection and restoration –Deploying zoning maps and special rating areas that have been instrumental in enabling the protection of vulnerable sites –Establishing a municipal Environmental Planning & Climate Protection department that demonstrates the city’s intent to embed nature considerations in decision-makingConclusion To further the transition, there is a clear opportunity for the city to: –Increase its use of external resources through external funding and partnerships to bridge financial resource gaps –Learn from similar cities by joining international partnerships and communities Through extensive engagement with Durban, this paper has endeavoured to understand and illustrate the city’s greatest barriers to making radical progress towards nature positivity. It has also identified potential solutions to overcome these challenges. The exemplary solutions aim to provide inspiration to city officials globally. This paper is part of a series of publications advocating for the regeneration of nature in – and by – urban areas. The series will help local leaders internalize nature’s values into their macro- and micro-economic decisions. It will highlight best practices and provide guidance on governance arrangements, incentives, regulations, stakeholder engagement, capacity- building priorities, impactful solutions and funding opportunities with the aim of making cities more resilient, prosperous and equitable. Nature Positive: Cities’ Efforts to Advance the Transition 39

Nature Positive Cities Efforts to Advance the Transition Durban 2024