Living in informal settlements leads to the exposure and vulnerability to environmental hazards to people and the land which they occupy. Informal settlements are characterized by a lack of basic services, pollution, overcrowding and poor waste management.
What is the environmental impact of informal settlement dwellers?
We found that, in general, the global environmental impact of informal settlement dwellers is lower than a moderate SES planned neighbourhood comparator. However, by using a broader metric of environmental impact than simply energy use and water consumption, we found that environmental impact is multi-faceted.
Why don’t governments acknowledge informal settlements?
Many governments refuse to acknowledge the existence of informal settlements, which undermines city-wide sustainable development and prosperity. These settlements continue to be geographically, economically, socially and politically disengaged from wider urban systems and excluded from urban opportunities and decision-making ( UN-Habitat, 2015f ).
How do informal settlements contribute to urbanisation?
population growth, and augmented rural-to-urban migration, contribute to the development of informal settlements, as cities fail to keep up with the pace of urbanisation. Informal settlement developments influence unparalleled land-use changes such that the environment becomes degraded and therefore unsustainable.
How do squatter settlements affect the environment?
In terms of environmental challenges in the squatter settlements and slums, air and water pollution, lack of personal hygiene and poor environmental sanitation, and health, noise, and cultural pollution are among the most visible ones. Sprawling, litter, and polluted waterways are most prevalent in most urban slums.
How do informal settlements contribute to water pollution?
Furthermore, many of the informal settlements are situated in close proximity to water source, especially rivers. In the absence of sanitation, these communities make use of shallow pit latrines, river banks, etc. The potential for pollution is therefore very high in these communities.
How do informal settlements affect urban areas?
Moreover, informal settlements are space where the neighborhood effects related to poor sanitation, overcrowding, poor housing, physical hazard, pollution, and poverty exposed the dwellers to everyday health risks and keep them in a “risk trap”.
What is the problem of informal settlement?
Informal Settlements have been associated with many social problems such as high levels of poverty, illiteracy and crime. Not forgetting the inadequate local services, especially healthcare, education and youth facilities.
What are the 3 biggest problems of informal settlements?
Informal settlements are characterized by a lack of basic services, pollution, overcrowding and poor waste management.
How does creating settlements damage the health of the river?
Densely populated human settlements inevitably produce large quantities of waste. This waste, if left unchecked, can pollute rivers, streams and even groundwater resources. These problems are at their worst in the larger more densely populated settlements, many of which are poorly serviced.
What are the negative effects of informal sector?
While offering the advantage of employment flexibility in some economies, a large informal sector is associated with low productivity, reduced tax revenues, poor governance, excessive regulations, and poverty and income inequality.
What are the causes of informal settlements?
According to UN-Habitat (2015:2), informal settlements are caused by a range of interrelated factors, including population growth and rural-urban migration, lack of affordable housing for the urban poor, weak governance (particularly in the areas of policy, planning, land and urban management resulting in land ...
How can informal settlements problems be solved?
Additionally, Janice Perlman4 sets forth eight recommendations for the improvement of informal settlements: (1) provide a variety of housing options in regards to tenure and payment, such as short-term rental, long-term lease, cohousing, and financed purchase; (2) invest in education, healthcare, and social services ...
What are the effects of settlement?
The impact of human settlements on the environment increases with population growth, settlement expansion, economic growth and increased consumption. All indications are that the impact of human settlements on environmental resources is increasing.
What problems does the growth of informal settlements create for large urban areas?
Living in informal settlements disproportionately affects certain groups. Informal settlements often sit on the periphery of urban areas, lacking access to markets and/or resources. For women, for example, this can heighten barriers they face in accessing livelihood opportunities.
What causes fire in informal settlements?
Informal settlements have a wide range of potential ignition sources, such as open flames, faulty electrical installations, candles, arson, and "other" or "undetermined" causes [2] .
Is water in Umlazi river polluted?
While many studies have shown that water quality is deteriorated downstream of these settlements, with high levels of faecal coliform, solid waste and organic pollution, posing health risks for those living in these areas and surrounding (Quibell, 2011).
How can we reduce water pollution?
Ways to Prevent Water PollutionPick up litter and throw it away in a garbage can.Blow or sweep fertilizer back onto the grass if it gets onto paved areas. ... Mulch or compost grass or yard waste. ... Wash your car or outdoor equipment where it can flow to a gravel or grassy area instead of a street.More items...•
How can squatter settlements be improved?
Over time, squatter settlements can be improved by the residents and become more stable permanent dwellings, with brick and concrete used to reinforce the structures. Squatter settlements are found in various locations, but are usually built on the edges of cities in the world's poorest countries or LEDC.
Abstract
Informal settlements are common phenomena in metro as well as in medium and small cities of developing countries. The absence of reliable and timely information about the locations, form and morphology of these areas creates difficulties in monitoring of these areas as well as facilitating proper decision making and planning.
References (3)
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Why do informal settlements have a smaller ecological footprint than more economically advantaged areas?
It is commonly expected that informal settlements in developing countries have a smaller ecological footprint than more economically advantaged areas because they consume fewer resources and use less energy. In this paper we examine this idea by comparing material consumption of two informal settlements to one moderate socio-economic ...
How is the ecological footprint calculated?
The EF is calculated by aggregating measures of basic behaviours and converting them to a hypothetical area of land required to provide natural resources and absorb wastes as a result of the behaviours. The metric is estimated in global hectares (gha) which represents the amount of bio-productive land and water required to sustain the human activities in aggregate. An EF can be calculated at various scales ranging from nations ( Van Vuuren and Smeets, 2000, Venetoulis and Taberth, 2008 ), to cities ( Luck et al., 2001, Du et al., 2006, Sharma et al., 2016 ), university campuses ( Conway et al., 2008, Venetoulis, 2001) and individuals or households ( Haque and Roper, 2005, Turner, 2004 ).
Why are informal settlements bad?
This is mainly due to the fact that land was occupied illegally, thus impacting negatively on the environment. A lack of basic needs and services leads to informal settlements having impacts on the environment.
How many people in Majengo agreed with the various causes of informal settlement?
The study found out that 40.4% majorly agreed with the various causes of the informal settlement, further 42.8% of the settlers in Majengo, agreed with various causes of the informal settlement. The study also determined that averagely 55% of the Majengo settlers agreed with the various measures of curbing informal settlement.
What is the principle of population?
In his 1798 work, An Essay on the Principle of Population, Malthus examined the relationship between population growth and resources . From this, he developed the Malthusian theory of population growth in which he wrote that population growth occurs exponentially, so it increases according to birth rate. According to Malthus, there are two types of 'checks' that can reduce a population's growth rate. Preventive checks are voluntary actions people can take to avoid contributing to the population. Because of his religious beliefs, he supported a concept he called moral restraint, in which people resist the urge to marry and reproduce until they are capable of supporting a family. This often means waiting until a later age to marry. He also wrote that there are 'immoral' ways to check a population, such as vices, adultery, prostitution, and birth control. Due to his beliefs, he favored moral restraint and didn't support the latter practice.
How many people live in slums in Kenya?
Depending on the city, 60-80% of Kenya’s urban population lives in slums that are characterized by lack of access to water and sanitation, insecure tenure, lack of adequate housing, poor environmental conditions, and high crime rates.
What are the strategies to deal with informal settlement in Kenya?
The study concluded that the strategies that have been adopted in dealing with the informality include a combination of both preventive and curative instruments including; expropriation, inclusionary zoning, land readjustment, community land trusts land and utilities, land sharing and street led upgrading. The study recommended that the County Management Authorities should generate more resources through land value capture of unearned increments in urban areas served with infrastructures packages such as roads and other public utilities.
What are the three theories of population growth?
The effect of population growth factors can be explained by three theories namely: the Malthusian theory (Malthusian, 1798) , The Optimum theory (Edwin, 1924) and Theory of Demographic Transition (Warren, 1929).
What are the factors that contribute to the emergence of informal settlements?
A number of interrelated factors have driven the emergence of informal settlements: population growth; rural-urban migration; lack of affordable housing; weak governance (particularly in policy, planning and urban management); economic vulnerability and low-paid work; marginalisation; and displacement caused by conflict, natural disasters and climate change ( UN-Habitat, 2015b ).
How does informal settlement affect women?
For women, for example, this can heighten barriers they face in accessing livelihood opportunities. Home-based workers also face challenges to entrepreneurial activity ( Chant, 2014 ). Women in informal settlements spend more time and energy accessing basic services than other urban counterparts, limiting their ability and time to earn through paid employment ( UNFPA, 2007 ). In addition, the prevalence of male-biased land tenure policies and restrictions on women’s rights to own property decreases the likelihood of alternative housing options. Poor quality housing, or eviction and homelessness, can also increase the risk of insecurity and sexual violence ( Chant, 2013; McIlwaine, 2013 ).
What is informal settlement?
Informal settlements are residential areas where ( UN-Habitat, 2015b; Brown, 2015 ): inhabitants often have no security of tenure for the land or dwellings they inhabit ‒ for example, they may squat or rent informally; neighbourhoods usually lack basic services and city infrastructure; housing may not comply with planning and building regulations, ...
What is the role of housing in urban development?
Housing. The provision of affordable, adequate housing, including in situ upgrading and avoidance of forced evictions, security of tenure and livelihood and employment generation, all play a role in urban prosperity. Long-term financial investment and inclusive financing options.
What are neighbourhoods lacking?
neighbourhoods usually lack basic services and city infrastructure; housing may not comply with planning and building regulations, and is often situated in geographically and environmentally sensitive areas (see Topic Guide on Provision and Improvement of Housing for the Poor, Patel, 2013). A number of interrelated factors have driven ...
What is UNFPA 2014b?
UNFPA (2014b). Framework of actions for the follow-up to the programme of action of the international conference on population and development beyond 2014. New York: UNFPA.
Where are informal settlements in South Africa?
This study was conducted from October 2017 to June 2018 in five informal settlements in three municipal jurisdictional areas in the Western Cape Province, South Africa, where there are high levels of unemployment, poor levels of education and income, and lack of, or poor, sanitation facilities. These settlements have high population densities and a mixed population of various racial and ethnic groups ( Table 1 ). Dwellings are located either on private or state-owned land. The municipalities have provided different sanitation technologies in each area.
What are the factors that influence sanitation practices?
Respondents concurred that their sanitation practices have been informed by a range of context-dependent factors ( Figure 2 ). Safety concerns (fear of being robbed, raped or killed) emerge in all study settlements as a prime factor for the adoption of particular sanitation practices. The lack of lighting in and outside the facility and night walking to the facility is a safety concern:
What is the sanitation problem in South Africa?
Access to safe sanitation is a growing challenge in informal settlements where over 65.0% of the residents have inadequate sanitation ( UN-Habitat 2014 ), and this has been identified as one of the biggest social issues of post-apartheid South Africa ( DWS 2016 ). Since access to sanitation (understood in this paper as the ability – and the right – to enter and to use the toilets at the time of need) is recognized as a human right in South Africa, all informal settlements are to be provided with basic infrastructure including water and sanitation facilities free of charge. Municipalities are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the facilities. Available sanitation facilities include communal flush toilets, MobiSan (a mobile communal urine diversion toilet), Kayaloo (a mobile communal full flush toilet) and porta-potties (individual portable toilet). However, most of these facilities are not fully accessible due to various operational issues (e.g. blockage and lack of water for flushing). Recognizing that sanitation is dignity, the Free Basic Sanitation (FBSan) policy that provides the right to limited water and sanitation services at no cost to low-income households ( Mosdell 2006) was introduced in 2001. The FBSan policy is a supply-driven approach with the focus on infrastructure delivery ( Tissington 2011 ), especially in rural and informal settlements. Although being acclaimed worldwide as one of the most progressive policies, the FBSan did not provide specifications regarding the nature of the services to be provided ( Mjoli et al. 2009 ). Municipalities (as service providers) were mandated to decide on the level of service and related allocations based upon their available resources and local circumstances ( DWAF 2008; Mjoli 2010 ). Municipalities focused on the supply of facilities based on either the availability of funds or the availability of the technology without considering site conditions, residents' socio-cultural preferences or sanitation practices and needs ( Lagardien & Muanda 2014 ). Through the FBSan policy, municipalities supplied sanitation facilities to various areas with the greatest need including informal settlements across South Africa. As a result, sanitation backlogs were reduced from 52% in 1994 to 21% in 2010 ( Mjoli et al. 2009; Mjoli 2010; DPME DWA & DHS 2012 ). To date, 76% of South African population living in urban and peri-urban areas has access to basic sanitation ( WHO & UNICEF 2019 ).
What are the two sections of the sanitation report?
Results are presented in two sections: (i) sanitation practices and their extent and (ii) factors informing sanitation practices and impact of residents' practices on the sanitation facilities and sustainability of the service.
What are the safety concerns of sanitation facilities?
Safety concerns (fear of being robbed, raped or even killed) emerge as the most common factor associated with the adoption of alternative and often undesirable, sanitation practices. The poor condition of the facility is being associated with users' fear of contamination. Taing (2015) and Garn et al. (2015) have found that the sustainable use of a sanitation facility is determined by its cleanliness. In our own study, the filthy conditions of many facilities deterred residents from using the facilities. As the WHO (2009) shows, unhygienic sanitation practices lead to disease. There is a vicious cycle as not using the facilities results in unhygienic practices which are being triggered by perceptions of users, in particular by the fear of contamination when accessing a filthy toilet. Safety and health concerns inform user practice most specifically in South Africa where there are high levels of poverty, unemployment and crime ( Stats SA 2019 ). While there were a large number of facilities in each of the settlements, many of these were dysfunctional and unusable. Where facilities are being used, there are particular problems that lead to the damaging of these facilities such as misuse, vandalism, lack of understanding, compliance, or disregard of use patterns or requirements.
What are the most used sanitation facilities in the world?
The most used facility was the communal flush toilet (37.9% n = 145), Kayaloo (20.0% n = 77), MobiSan (12.0% n = 46), porta-potties (3.4% n = 13) and other facilities including those within or outside the settlements (14.4% n = 55). Some respondents (12.3% n = 47) reported not using any of the facilities. In all these settlements, the use of existing facilities (either to dispose the bucket content or defecate) is combined with a variety of alternative practices including open defecation, use of plastic bags (commonly known as flying toilet), night pails, porta-potties ( Figure 1) and use of own self-made facilities such as pit latrines and flush toilets illegally connected to stormwater drains.
Is sanitation a human right in South Africa?
Since access to sanitation (understood in this paper as the ability – and the right – to enter and to use the toilets at the time of need) is recognized as a human right in South Africa, all informal settlements are to be provided with basic infrastructure including water and sanitation facilities free of charge.
Dedication
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ABSTRACT TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES LIST OF FIGURES LIST OF ACCRONYMS DEFINITION OF OPERATIONAL TERMS CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION OF THE STUDY 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Statement of the Problem 1.3 Research Objectives 1.3.1 General Objectives 1.3.2 Specific Objectives 1.4 Specific Objectives 1.5 Significance of the Study 1.6 Lim…
Acknowledgement
- This academic achievement would not be possible without the grace of God. Am also grateful to my Mom Mary Wangui and Dad Benson Nyoro for the support they gave me. Thirdly, I would like to acknowledge my supervisor Ms Diana Atieno for the time she dedicated to ensure that all errors were corrected and the guidance she gave me towards successful completion of this proj…
Abstract
- People residing in informal settlements face challenges of service delivery. This is mainly due to the fact that land was occupied illegally, thus impacting negatively on the environment. It was in the background of the above problem, that this study sought to establish the influence of informal settlement on the surrounding environment. The study ...
List of Tables
- Table 4. 1: Response Rate Table 4. 2: Gender of the Respondents Table 4. 3: Marital Status Table 4. 4: Age Bracket of the Respondents Table 4. 5: Level of Education Table 4. 6: Extent of Informal Settlements Table 4. 7: Causes of Informal Settlement Table 4. 8: Effect of Informal Settlement on the Environment Table 4. 9: Policy Measures to Reduce Informal Settlement
List of Figures
- Figure 2. 1: Conceptual Framework Figure 4. 1: Extent of Informal Settlement Figure 4. 2: Causes of Informal Settlement Figure 4. 3: Effect of Informal Settlement on the Environment
List of Accronyms
- ILO: International Labour Organization Non-Governmental NGO: Organization United Nations UN: United Nations UNEP: United Nations Environmental Program UNPD:United Nations Population Division
Definition of Operational Terms
- Industrialization: It is the process of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agrarian society into an industrial one. Population Growth: The relative extent of size of the population or number of people in an area compared to the recommended optimum size. Poverty:It is the lack of basic human needs such as clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, …
Introduction of The Study
- 1.1 Introduction
The world state of settlements shows that more than 50 percent of people live in informal settlement especially in cities of developing countries with the expanding population due to rural-urban migration and natural birth rate (UN-Habitat, 2015). African countries are facing serious si… - 1.2 Statement of the Problem
People residing in informal settlements face challenges of service delivery. This is mainly due to the fact that land was occupied illegally, thus impacting negatively on the environment. A lack of basic needs and services leads to informal settlements having impacts on the environment. The…
Literature Review
- 2.1 Introduction
This chapter rod on various studies that have been undertaken by different authors on issues related to informal settlements and environmental management. Basically, the study focused on the theoretical and empirical literature review, conceptual framework as well as a research gap. - 2.2 Empirical Review
This part presents the information on various studies in respect to causes of informal settlement, effects of informal settlement on the environment and policy measures to curb informal environment.