Think Global, Map Local!

Philip visits Wendy Brawer, founder of GreenMap

The Green Map System supports inclusive participation in sustainable community development worldwide, using mapmaking as its medium.

 

Working collaboratively since 1995, this nonprofit expands the demand for healthier, more vibrant communities with adaptable mapmaking tools and universal icons, multi-lingual participatory websites, workshops and regional hubs. Transforming local information into global interaction, the interactive Open Green Map platform invites the public to enhance the maps as well as explore them. Building leadership, networks and skills, Green Map teams have extended their impacts with sustainability initiatives that address directly challenges to community well-being.

Today, in over 775 communities in 60 countries, Green Maps are guiding millions to make climate-smart everyday decisions that promote the uniqueness of home and its environment. Get involved and support this perspective-changing movement.

If you have any 'green' site suggestions for the Cape Town Green Map please email us at capetowngm@gmail.com or "Suggest a Site" here http://www.capetowngreenmap.co.za/suggest-a-site

Think Global, Map Local!

The Green Map System,

• creates adaptable map-making processes, accessible tools and universal icons that allow local Green Map teams to identify and share information about the green living sites and natural, cultural and social resources in their communities

• helps local teams to gain valuable skills in collaborative decision-making, project management, community organizing and communications as part of their map-making process

• promotes international collaboration with a global network of Mapmakers who share ideas and contribute valuable insights for the Green Map movement from a variety of cultural perspectives

• provides educational programs, events, print and multimedia resources, interactive web and mobile platforms, all to support professional, institutional, youth and grassroots project leaders in highlighting the emerging green economy, celebrating the uniqueness of home and protecting biodiversity

Explore the Green Map's iPhone App to find out how newcomers, long time residents, journalists, policy-makers, students and visitors in your community can benefit directly by having an active Green Map highlighting progress toward sustainability in your part of the world.

The OpenGreenMap system uses universal icons that allow local green map teams to identify and share information about the green living sites and natural, cultural, and social resources in their communities. 

The Cape Town Green Map has been built around the OpenGreenMap systems platform and has grown over the last four years to a database over over 450 Green Sites and we hope to increase this number even further over the next few months!

Here are some of the icons we use on the map:

Under Culture & Society these are some of the different themes:

Community Centre is a place where meetings and social gatherings involving the whole community are held. An example would be the Hout Bay Community Centre 

Cultural Site is historical, art, music, legendary, non-institutional resources, monuments, organizations and places, even temporary projects may be included. Example: Iziko Bo-kaap Museum

Eco-Spiritual Site is a place to contemplate nature or spirtitual pursuit. This may include an organised religous sancuary or environmental programme, or a profoundly beautiful place. Example: Labyrinth at St. George’s Cathedral
 

Environmental Education is a site, centre or gathering place where informal or formal education on environmental topics takes place. Examples: SANBI: Kirstenbosch Environmental Education, Tsogo Environmental Centre, SEED

Eco Club/Organization is a site where individuals and groups can gather to discuss sustainability and organize actions, campaigns and networks. Examples: Project 90x2030 clubs

Online Resource is Website addresses (or links) to useful local/global information online. May indicate public access to the internet. Example: Urban Sprout

 Under Sustainable Living these are some the different themes;
 

Eco Products are produced in accordance with green standards and / or end-product delivers an environmental benefit. At this site, they may be sold alongside conventional products, but a significant proportion of products should be eco-products. Examples: solar cooker, wind-up radio, gas fridge, eco-friendly cleaning products, organic beauty products, hemp clothing

Healthy Dining requires an emphasis on wholesome, healthful, fresh foods, made with local and/or organic ingredients. Vegetarian and vegan foods (no animal products whatsoever) are served. Meat and dairy products are from ethically treated animals raised carefully to minimize environmental and health impacts, without additives, genetic modifications or factory farm practices. Endangered fish, marine and other species are not served. Cooperatively-owned cafes, cafes that grow their own food as well as "Slow Food" sites can be included, as can traditional or special local cuisines. Examples: restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, some health shops with in-store dining, slow food markets, local markets serving organic/local food can use this as a secondary icon, restaurants promoting SASSI e.g. Sage Organic Café, Shoreline Café
 

Organic/ Local Food grown very near to where it is consumed, so it has fewer ‘food miles’ that decrease freshness and increase ecological impacts associated with shipping long distances. Organic food grown without pesticides (biocides), genetic modification or synthetic fertilizers. No chemicals or waxes are added after harvesting. If processed, it is usually prepared in a way to maximize the nutritional value. May also include fair trade or direct trade practices.Example: Wild Organic Foods
 

Bicycle Sites need to be a Good place to buy, borrow, repair or rent bicycles, work bikes and other kinds of human-powered vehicles. Can indicate bicycling organizations of all kinds, bike-friendly services and sites.Example: Bicycle Empowerment Network (BEN)
 

Green Buildings must practice increasing the efficiency of buildings and their use of energy, water, and materials while reducing building impacts on health and the environment throughout the complete building life cycle by incorporating better siting, design, construction, systems, operation, maintenance and removal.Example: The Green Building

Wind Energy sites are wind turbines and windmills that harness energy generated by the wind are located on this site. Can be a small system or a large grid electricity generating facility. Can indicate wind power information resources or a site that offsets its electricity needs with wind power. Example: Darling Wind Farm

Under Nature these are some of the different themes;
 

Indigenous Plants are Nurserys that sell as well as provide valuable information about indigenous flora. Examples: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Dr Boomslang

Community Gardens are often planted on public or formerly abandoned land, community gardens are run by volunteers who cultivate vegetables and flowers, closer relationships to nature and one another. Sometimes fenced and locked or threatened by development, but generally open to all participants, raising the quality of life in the community, and improving air and soil quality at the same time. Offers hands-on learning and a habitat for birds and insects, too. Examples: Ariston (Claremont), Abalimi and Soil for Life community gardens

Bird & Wildlife Watching are a place to view animals in the wild. Officially recognised or locally-known sites could be accompanied by guidelines for viewing without harm, and details on the species you might see. Don't indicate delicate nesting areas or endangered habitats, it's better to point to organisations or wildlife centres to help protect animals. Example: Dick Dent Bird Sanctuary

Nature Reserve/Natural Area are Nature Reserves, National Parks, Regional Parks, other parks and public forests. May also be used for private land that has been set aside for conservation, too. Examples: City of Cape Town Nature Reserves, Table Mountain National Park, CapeNature Reserves

Wildlife Habitat is a Native environment for animals and the plants that sustain them. They can represent native natural environments, or protected areas such as park reserves where larger animals and other wildlife can be found. Examples: De Oog Wetland

Scenic Vista is everyones favourite places to see what makes the community’s environment special. Think broadly about these sites and protecting the ‘viewshed’. Examples: Chapman’s Peak Drive, Signal Hill

The information provided is a summary of the information already on our site. Please visit our Icons and Criteria page for more detailed information. Here you can scroll over the icons and click each individual icon for more information on that specific icon.

If you have any 'green' site suggestions please email us at capetowngm@gmail.com or "Suggest a Site" herehttp://www.capetowngreenmap.co.za/suggest-a-site