In pursuit of just and sustainable cities, nature is increasingly acknowledged worldwide as an essential ingredient. This is because humans are strongly connected to and dependant on nature, even in complex landscapes like cities. Yet, cities worldwide are losing nature and biodiversity at a faster rate than ever before, with high occurrences in developing countries. Before human-nature connectedness in cities is completely lost, owing to these trends, there is need to consider effective green infrastructure planning to promote biodiversity even in cities.

In a recent in-depth assessment of values of nature, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) underscored that “the cause of global biodiversity crisis and opportunities to address them are tightly linked to the ways in which nature is valued in political and economic decisions at all levels” and “decision-making about nature can be better informed when the relevant values about what is at stake and for whom are known”.

My research therefore would like to apply this value-centered approach in the lens of just and sustainable city to promote nature and biodiversity, in African city, a case of Lilongwe city, Malawi. It will attempt answering the following key questions: What are values of nature over time and space by the inhabitants of Lilongwe city, Malawi? How does the inhabitants of Lilongwe city, Malawi value nature? To what extent can understanding values of nature by inhabitants of Lilongwe city, Malawi potentially supports urban green planning for just and sustainable city?