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"…the whole land will be laid waste because there is no one who cares" (Jer. 12:11) Greater Johannesburg has a rich natural and human heritage, to which numerous cultures, both past and present, have contributed. This is depicted in its architecture. This valuable and non-renewable heritage contributes to our sense of identity, and it is therefore imperative that it be protected and conserved for the benefit of all South Africans. Conservation applies to both the natural and built environment. According to the Union for the Conservation of Nature (Hugo et.al., 1997), nature conservation refers to "the responsible management of people’s use of the natural environment in such a way that it retains the largest, permanent advantages for the present generation, and retains the potential to supply the needs and gratify the expectations of future generations". The natural environment of Greater Johannesburg has long been under threat due to the vast development that the area has undergone, and its conservation is therefore extremely important. Greater Johannesburg’s long and interesting history is reflected in its built environment, through numerous important historical buildings and monuments. The conservation of these buildings and monuments is imperative for future generations to understand and appreciate its history. As the city is an artificial man-made environment, very little of the natural environment has not been disturbed. In such an ecosystem humans are ecologically dominant and the system is completely dependent on technology and imported energy. The system is kept at an artificial equilibrium, and if any of the artificial services were to fail, total chaos would result (Hugo et.al., 1997). It is for this reason that both the natural and built environments of the urban ecosystem must be protected. |
