Applying social-ecological systems thinking to the urban quarter of old Sana'a and its associated garden

The decline of the Old City of Sana'a's urban quarter and its associated garden is attributed to mismanagement of water and food resources by authoritative groups, disrupting a once thriving social-ecological system. This study reveals that cultural factors, particularly religious influences on water and waste systems, significantly shape the functionality of such built environments. By applying regenerative design principles through a social-ecological systems lens, it identifies critical insights for restoring vibrant urban ecosystems. The research highlights gaps in applying regenerative design outside North America and the limited exploration of social-ecological systems in built environments, offering a framework to advance regenerative design theory in culturally distinct contexts.

Al-Sallal, I. K. (2013). Applying social-ecological systems thinking to the urban quarter of old Sana'a and its associated garden. University of British Columbia. https://doi.org/10.14288/1.0074241