Urban development in the last four decades has brought a complete change to the urban image of Gaborone.
Its original savannah landscape and surrounding green complexion has changed by cumulative impacts of
numerous factors involved in creation of a contemporary settlement, from a small village to the capital city of
Botswana. The concept of a "garden city" was introduced immediately after the country gained its independence
from the British in 1966. Building on the legacy of "garden city", it was assumed that the "new town" will
continue to shape and gain recognition as an urban oasis. However, this was not the case and Gaborone became
the fastest growing urban laboratory in Sub-Saharan Africa, portraying intensive diffusion and adoption of
imported urban models (WARD, 1999). The spectacular population increase from only 7,000 people in 1966
to almost 200,000 in 2001, and urban sprawling were inevitable. This enlargement was fuelled by ruralurban
migration owing to the administrative and economic status of Botswana's new capital, as well as, due
to intensive urbanization, industrialization and transportation based on individual car use. Even in the latest
city development plan (GoB, 2001) less attention has been paid to the role of green networks and areas, and
their contribution to many ecological and societal values. Today, Gaborone is facing the challenge of the typical
problems of mega-cities, such as environmental degradation, urban sprawl. The research project DIMSUD is
dedicated to identify ways toward sustainable urban development, starting with an analysis of challenges, and
continuing with the tasks for urban planning and opportunities for sustainable urban development.