Showing papers on "Sustainability published in 1998"

Nature's services: societal dependence on natural ecosystems.

Abstract: Life itself as well as the entire human economy depends on goods and services provided by earth's natural systems. The processes of cleansing, recycling, and renewal, along with goods such as seafood, forage, and timber, are worth many trillions of dollars annually, and nothing could live without them. Yet growing human impacts on the environment are profoundly disrupting the functioning of natural systems and imperiling the delivery of these services.Nature's Services brings together world-renowned scientists from a variety of disciplines to examine the character and value of ecosystem services, the damage that has been done to them, and the consequent implications for human society. Contributors including Paul R. Ehrlich, Donald Kennedy, Pamela A. Matson, Robert Costanza, Gary Paul Nabhan, Jane Lubchenco, Sandra Postel, and Norman Myers present a detailed synthesis of our current understanding of a suite of ecosystem services and a preliminary assessment of their economic value. Chapters consider: major services including climate regulation, soil fertility, pollination, and pest control philosophical and economic issues of valuation case studies of specific ecosystems and services implication of recent findings and steps that must be taken to address the most pressing concerns Nature's Services represents one of the first efforts by scientists to provide an overview of the many benefits and services that nature offers to people and the extent to which we are all vitally dependent on those services. The book enhances our understanding of the value of the natural systems that surround us and can play an essential role in encouraging greater efforts to protect the earth's basic life-support systems before it is too late. -- publisher's description

Regime shifts to sustainability through processes of niche formation : the approach of strategic niche management

Abstract: The unsustainability of the present trajctories of technical change in sectors such as transport and agriculture is widely recognized. It is far from clear, however, how a transition to more sustainable modes of development may be achieved. Sustainable technologies that fulful important user requirements in terms of performance and price are most often not available on the market. Ideas of what might be more sustainable technologies exist, but the long development times, uncertainty about market demand and social gains, and the need for change at different levels in organization, technology, infastructure and the wider social and institutional context-provide a great barrier. This raises the question of how the potential of more sustainable technologies and modes of development may be exploited. In this article we describe how technical change is locked into dominant technological regimes, and present a perspective, called strategic niche management, on how to expedite a transition into a new regime. The perspective consists of the creation and/or management of nichesfor promising technologies.

Resource Abundance and Economic Development

Abstract: I. INTRODUCTION Introduction and Overview II. CRITICAL PARAMETERS IN RESOURCE-BASED DEVELOPMENT MODELS 2. Natural Resources, Capital Accumulation, Structural Change, and Welfare 3. The Sustainability of Extractive Economies 4. Natural Resources, Human Capital, and Growth 5. The Social Foundations of Poor Economic Growth in Resource-Rich Countries III. LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE ON, AND MODELS OF, RESOURCE-BASED GROWTH 6. Natural Resources and Economic Development: The 1870-1914 Experience 7. Short-Run Models of Contrasting Natural Resource Endowments 8. Political Economy of Resource-Abundant States IV. DEVELOPMENT TRAJECTORIES OF RESOURCE-ABUNDANT COUNTRIES 9. Competitive Industrialization with Natural Resource Abundance: Malaysia 10. A Growth Collapse with Diffuse Resources: Ghana 11. A Growth Collapse with Point Resources: Bolivia 12. A Growth Collapse with High Rent Point Resources: Saudi Arabia 13. Large Resource-Abundant Countries Squander their Size Advantage: Mexico and Argentina V. LESSONS FOR POLICY REFORM 14. Reforming a Small Resource-Rich Developing Market Economy: Costa Rica 15. Growth, Capital Accumulation, and Economic Reform in South Africa 16. Reforming Resource-Abundance Transition Economies: Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan 17. Reforming a Large Resource-Abundant Transition Economy: Russia 18. A Nordic Perspective on Natural Resource Abundance VI. CONCLUSIONS 19. Conclusions: Resource Abundance, Growth Collapse, and Policy

Planning for the sustainability of community-based health programs: conceptual frameworks and future directions for research, practice and policy

Abstract: Attention to the sustainability of health intervention programs both in the US and abroad is increasing, but little consensus exists on the conceptual and operational definitions of sustainability. Moreover, an empirical knowledge base about the determinants of sustainability is still at an early stage. Planning for sustainability requires, first, a clear understanding of the concept of sustainability and operational indicators that may be used in monitoring sustainability over time. Important categories of indicators include: (1) maintenance of health benefits achieved through an initial program, (2) level of institutionalization of a program within an organization and (3) measures of capacity building in the recipient community. Second, planning for sustainability requires the use of programmatic approaches and strategies that favor long-term program maintenance. We suggest that the potential influences on sustainability may derive from three major groups of factors: (1) project design and implementation factors, (2) factors within the organizational setting, and (3) factors in the broader community environment. Future efforts to develop sustainable health intervention programs in communities can build on the concepts and strategies proposed here.

Whose Knowledge, Whose nature? Biodiversity, Conservation, and the Political Ecology of Social Movements

Abstract: This paper proposes a framework for rethinking the conservation and appropriation of biological diversity from the perspective of social movements. It argues that biodiversity, although with concrete biophysical referents, is a discourse of recent origin. This discourse fosters a complex network of diverse actors, from international organizations and NGOs to local communities and social movements. Four views of biodiversity produced by this network (centered on global resource management, national sovereignity, biodemocracy, and cultural autonomy, respectively) are discussed in the first part of the paper. The second part focuses on the cultural autonomy perspective developed by social movements. It examines in detail the rise and development of the social movement of black communities in the Pacific rainforest region of Colombia. This movement, it is argued, articulates through their practice an entire political ecology of sustainability and conservation. The main elements of this political ecology are discussed and presented as a viable alternative to dominant frameworks. Key words: political ecology, social movements, rainforest, biodiversity, afrocolombians, global networks.

Linking Social and Ecological Systems

Abstract: It is usually the case that scientists examine either ecological systems or social systems, yet the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the problems of environmental management and sustainable development is becoming increasingly obvious. Developed under the auspices of the Beijer Institute in Stockholm, this new book analyses social and ecological linkages in selected ecosystems using an international and interdisciplinary case study approach. The chapters provide detailed information on a variety of management practices for dealing with environmental change. Taken as a whole, the book will contribute to the greater understanding of essential social responses to changes in ecosystems, including the generation, accumulation and transmission of ecological knowledge, structure and dynamics of institutions, and the cultural values underlying these responses. A set of new (or rediscovered) principles for sustainable ecosystem management is also presented. Linking Social and Ecological Systems will be of value to natural and social scientists interested in sustainability.

Developing and Testing a Tourism Impact Scale

Abstract: A 35-item tourism impact scale was developed. It was de rived from an initial pool of 147 impact items drawn from personal interviews and the literature, and it was refined us ing classical scale-development procedures. The scale com prises seven domains: social and cultural, economic, crowd ing and congestion, environmental, services, taxes, and community attitudes, although the latter two domains did not always emerge as independent factors. Testing was under taken with three independent samples drawn from communi ties exhibiting different tourism characteristics. The scale was demonstrated to have dimensional distinctiveness and stability, internal consistency, content validity, and conver gent validity. Tourism impacts were assessed by measuring both belief and affect toward the impact attributes.

Water in crisis: paths to sustainable water use

Abstract: A wide range of ecological and human crises result from inadequate access to, and the inappropriate management of, freshwater resources. These include destruction of aquatic ecosystems and extinction of species, millions of deaths from water-related illnesses, and a growing risk of regional and international conflicts over scarce, shared water supplies. As human populations continue to grow, these problems are likely to become more frequent and serious. New approaches to long-term water planning and management that incorporate principles of sustainability and equity are required and are now being explored by national and international water experts and organizations. Seven “sustainability criteria” are discussed here, as part of an effort to reshape long-term water planning and management. Among these principles are guaranteed access to a basic amount of water necessary to maintain human health and to sustain ecosystems, basic protections for the renewability of water resources, and institutional recommen...

Environmental Communication and the Cultural Politics of Environmental Citizenship

Abstract: This paper presents a comparative analysis of how representatives from the public, private, and voluntary sectors of two cities [Nottingham (United Kingdom) and Eindhoven (The Netherlands)] responded to the challenge of communicating more effectively with citizens about issues of sustainability. The analysis is set in the context of literature about the need to widen participation in the determination of Local Agenda 21 policies, and the drive for more inclusionary forms of communication in planning and politics. Workshop members discussed the results of surveys and in-depth discussion groups with local residents which had revealed considerable scepticism and mistrust of environmental communications and environmental expertise. Three themes are explored. First, there is consensus in attributing responsibility for public alienation and resistance to environmental communications to the content and styles of media reporting. Second, there are contrasting discursive constructions of the ‘public’, which reflec...

Facilitating Sustainable Agriculture: Participatory Learning and Adaptive Management in Times of Environmental Uncertainty

Abstract: Preface Part I. Introduction: 1. A new practice: facilitating sustainable agriculture N. Roling and A. Wagemakers 2. Supportive policies and practices for scaling up sustainable agriculture J. Pretty 3. The second wing of the eagles: the human dimension in learning our way to more sustainable futures J. Woodhill and N. Roling Part II. Environmental Policies and Farmers' Reactions: 4. Developing standards for sustainable farming in the Swiss Alps M. Roux and A. Blum 5. Extension functions and farmers' attitudes in Greece A. Koutsouris and D. Papadopoulos 6. Integrated arable farming in the Netherlands W. van Weperen, M. Proost and N. Roling Part III. Farmer Learning, Its Facilitation and Supportive Institutions: 7. Learning about sustainable agriculture: the case of Dutch arable farmers 8. The diffusion of eco-farming in Germany A. Gerber and V. Hoffmann 9. Transforming extension for sustainable agriculture: the case of integrated pest management in rice in Indonesia N. Roling and E. van de Fliert 10. Co-learning tools: powerful instruments of change in southern Queensland, Australia G. Hamilton 11. A social harvest reaped from a promise of springtime. User-responsive, participatory agricultural research in Asia G. T. Castillo Part IV. Platforms For Agricultural Resources Use Negotiation: 12. Integrated farming systems: a sustainable agriculture learning community in the USAJ. Fisk, O. Hesterman, and T. Thorburn 13. Fomenting energy: experiences with facilitating landcare in Australia A. Campbell 14. The implementation of nature policy in the Netherlands: platforms designed to fail M. Wagemans and J. Boerma 15. The communication between farmers and government over nature: a new approach to policy development C. van Woerkum and M. Aarts Part V. Synthesis: 16. The ecological knowledge system About the authors List of figures Tables Boxes List of abbreviations and acronyms Index.

Sustainable tourism : a marketing perspective

Abstract: Foreword Preface The context, the issues, a global over-view - Environment, tourism: a marketing perspective Global environmental issues International summary of tourism and environment: Northern Europe, Mediterranean and North America International summary of tourism and environment: East Asia & Pacific, Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Rest of the World Travel and tourism: the world's largest industry The environmental significance of holiday and leisure tourism Managing tourism for sustainability at specific destinations - Managing tourism: the local destination focus Managing tourism at local destinations: the public sector role Managing tourism at local destinations: the private sector role The marketing processes for sustainable tourism at destinations The issues and cases of good management practice in the main sectors of travel and tourism - The 'R' word guide to corporate action on sustainability Sustainability in the accommodation sector, with international illustrations Sustainability in visitor attractions sector Sustainability in the transport sector, with international illustrations Sustainability in the tour operator sector, with international illustrations International cases of good management practice for sustainability - Quicksilver Connections Ltd, Barrier Reef, Australia Kruger National Park, South Africa Edinburgh's Old Town, UK Anglian Water Services, Rutland Water, UK Ironbridge Gorge Museum, UK Epilogue - Positive visions for sustainable tourism Appendices - Select glossary of useful environment, tourism and marketing terms Environmental regulations, market mechanisms and self-regulatory codes of conduct influencing the tourism industry Select bibliography Index.

Valuing the future : economic theory and sustainability

Abstract: AppendixProject evaluationNational welfareMeasuring national incomePolicy issuesCapital and renewable resourcesExhaustibility and accumulationCapital accumulationInvestment in a backstopRenewable resources revisitedDepletion revisitedAlternatives to utilitarianismA broader perspectiveRenewable resourcesValuing a depletable stockThe classical formulationSustainability within a classical framework

The Politics of Ecosystem Management

Abstract: Resource management in the United States is undergoing a fundamental change. Traditional sustained-yield approaches that focus on commodity production and human resource use are steadily giving way to ecological approaches, often referred to as ecosystem management, that have long-term ecological sustainability as their primary goal. To achieve that goal, ecosystem management emphasizes socially defined goals and objectives, integrated and holistic science, collaborative decision making, and adaptable institutions. Political considerations are an essential component of ecosystem management, yet its socio-political context has been largely ignored by those studying and writing on the subject.The Politics of Ecosystem Management is the first book to focus entirely on the political challenges facing ecosystem management as it moves from theory to practice.The authors examine: the history of natural resource management in the United States the theory behind ecosystem management potential inconsistencies and contradictions in the themes of ecosystem management political philosophies that undergird traditional resource management alternative political principles inherent in ecosystem management opportunities and barriers for achieving collaborative ecosystem managementThe Politics of Ecosystem Management considers the sweeping and profound changes that will be required of the American governance system -- its political philosophy, institutions, notions of citizenship, and politics, as well its resource management practices -- if the shift to ecosystem management is to be realized. It is a lucid and accessible volume that represents a vital contribution to the literature for students, researchers, and professionals involved with any aspect of developing and implementing ecosystem-based approaches to resource management.

Cooperating with nature : confronting natural hazards with land use planning for sustainable communities

Abstract: This volume focuses on the breakdown in sustainability--the capacity of the planet to provide quality of life now and in the future--that is signaled by disaster. The authors bring to light why land use and sustainability have been ignored in devising public policies to deal with natural hazards. They lay out a vision of sustainability, concrete suggestions for policy reform, and procedures for planning. The book chronicles the long evolution of land-use planning and identifies key components of sustainable planning for hazards. Stressing the importance of balance in land use, the authors offer principles and specific reforms for achieving their visions of sustainability.

Long-Term Agroecosystem Experiments: Assessing Agricultural Sustainability and Global Change

Abstract: Long-term agroecosystem experiments can be defined as large-scale field experiments more than 20 years old that study crop production, nutrient cycling, and environmental impacts of agriculture. They provide a resource for evaluating biological, biogeochemical, and environmental dimensions of agricultural sustainability; for predicting future global changes; and for validating model competence and performance. A systematic assessment is needed to determine the merits of all known experiments and to identify any that may exist in tropical and subtropical environments. The establishment of an international network to coordinate data collection and link sites would facilitate more precise prediction of agroecosystem sustainability and future global change.

Green purchasing and supply policies: do they improve companies’ environmental performance?

Abstract: Asks how does green purchasing change the environmental performance of the firms in a supply chain/network and what is the influence of supply chain and industry structure on that performance? Do such changes contribute to companies’ overall environmental performance and to sustainability? Discusses these, and related questions, by exploring the activities of the UK hardware retailer, B&Q, as an example of green purchasing and supply in action.

Public transportation access

Abstract: The form of a city has a major impact on the lifestyles of its residents As urban centers grow, careful strategies are required to ensure that the regional quality of life is not adversely affected by this growth An important strategic consideration is transportation planning Questions regarding the sustainability of dispersed car dependent urban forms have led to a renewed interest in public transportation This paper examines access to public transportation and discusses approaches for improving such access Examples from the South East Queensland region of Australia will be used for illustration

CO2 Mitigation by Agriculture: An Overview

Abstract: Agriculture currently contributes significantly to the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere, primarily through the conversion of native ecosystems to agricultural uses in the tropics. Yet there are major opportunities for mitigation of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions through changes in the use and management of agricultural lands. Agricultural mitigation options can be broadly divided into two categories: (I) strategies to maintain and increase stocks of organic C in soils (and biomass), and (ii) reductions in fossil C consumption, including reduced emissions by the agricultural sector itself and through agricultural production of biofuels to substitute for fossil fuels. Reducing the conversion of new land to agriculture in the tropics could substantially reduce CO2 emissions, but this option faces several difficult issues including population increase, land tenure and other socio-political factors in developing countries. The most significant opportunities for reducing tropical land conversions are in the humid tropics and in tropical wetlands. An important linkage is to improve the productivity and sustainability of existing agricultural lands in these regions. Globally, we estimate potential agricultural CO2 mitigation through soil C sequestration to be 0.4-0.9 Pg C y-1, through better management of existing agricultural soils, restoration of degraded lands, permanent "set-asides" of surplus agricultural lands in temperate developed countries and restoration of 10-20% of former wetlands now being used for agriculture. However, soils have a finite capacity to store additional C and therefore any increases in C stocks following changes in management would be largely realized within 50-100 years. Mitigation potential through reducing direct agricultural emissions is modest, 0.01-0.05 Pg C y-1. However, the potential to offset fossil C consumption through the use of biofuels produced by agriculture is substantial, 0.5-1.6 Pg C y-1, mainly through the production of dedicated biofuel crops with a smaller contribution (0.2-0.3 Pg C y-1) from crop residues. Many agricultural mitigation options represent "win-win" situations, in that there are important side benefits, in addition to CO2 mitigation, that could be achieved, e.g. improved soil fertility with higher soil organic matter, protection of lands poorly suited for permanent agriculture, cost saving for fossil fuel inputs and diversification of agricultural production (e.g. biofuels). However, the needs for global food production and farmer/societal acceptability suggest that mitigation technologies should conform to: (I) the enhancement of agricultural production levels in parts of the world where food production and population demand are in delicate balance and (ii) the accrual of additional benefits to the farmer (e.g., reduced labor, reduced or more efficient use of inputs) and society at large.

Principles for Sustainable Governance of the Oceans

Abstract: Pressures being exerted on the ocean ecosystems through overfishing, pollution, and environmental and climate change are increasing. Six core principles are proposed to guide governance and use of ocean resources and to promote sustainability. Examples of governance structures that embody these principles are given.

Sustainable Tourism: A Geographical Perspective

Abstract: 1. Sustainable Tourism: An Introduction 2. Sustainable Tourism: Development and Protection of Cultural Heritage 3. Tourism and Sustainable Development: The Global-Local Nexus 4. Tourism and the Environment: From Economic Restructuring to Shared Responsibility 5. "Come Share Our Culture": Sustainable Tourism and Indigenous Peoples 6. Incorporating Values into Cumulative Effects Assessment: Limits of Acceptable Change and Other Tools for Tourism-Recreation Analysis 7. The Environmental History and Politics of Sustainable Tourism Development 8. Trends in the Pacific Asia Ecotourism Market 9. Ecotourism: Viable Route to Rural Development? 10. Curry County Sustainable Nature-Based Tourism Project 11. Recreational Publish Transport Initiatives in Rural Britain as Sustainable Tourism 12. Efforts at Ecotourism Development on the Lower North Shore of Quebec, Canada 13. Development in Nepal: The Annapurna Conservation Area Project 14. Sustainable Tourism Development and Local Government in New Zealand 15. Sustainable Urban Tourism 16. The Geography of Sustainable Tourism: Endings and Beginnings

Justice and the Environment: Conceptions of Environmental Sustainability and Theories of Distributive Justice

Abstract: Introduction 1. Social Justice and Environmental Politics 2. Three Conceptions of Environmental Sustainability 3. The Dimensions of Social Justice 4. 'Critical Natural Capital' and Social Justice (Part One) 5. 'Critical Natural Capital' and Social Justice (Part Two) 6. 'Irreversibility' and Social Justice 7. 'Natural Value' and Social Justice Conclusion