Environmental Management Systems and Co-operation in Municipalities

Due to the complex character of environmental issues there has been a call for change towards integration and co-operation on the development and environmental management scene. This holds true at all levels of society, from the global to the local. Due to cultural differences between different professions in municipalities, it may be hard to reach co-operation between different actors in municipal environmental management (MEM). Based on the present situation in Sweden in general and the municipality of Västera § s in particular, this paper discusses how co-operation in MEM may be promoted by the adoption of an environmental management system (EMS) in an entire municipality. Results from the study suggest that municipality-wide implementation of EMSs may help to bridge professional culture and language gaps. An EMS may provide the basis of a formal network that functions as a common platform and structure for environment-related discussion and work in different municipal authorities and companies, and thereby facilitate communication and co-operation among the actors in MEM.     

Local Peoples' Knowledge,Aptitude and Perceptions of Planning and Management Issues in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve,India

Local peoples' knowledge, aptitude, and perceptions of planning and management issues were investigated in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR) in Uttaranchal State of India. Conflicts ensued between local inhabitants and the management authority due to lack of community participation. Although most respondents seem to claim the knowledge of the objectives of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, the source of information indicates their interaction with the management authority is not frequent. While local population seem to agree on reduced intensity of agriculture with compensation equal to loss of net income, there is a perceptible difference in responses among different age groups. While the younger generation seems to agree to move away to other areas with suitable compensation packages, the older generation prefer those options that require some adjustments in use and access to natural resources. The option of ecotourism as a source of income is acceptable to most respondents, but young and old respondents disagreed about impact of such activity on social behavior of local inhabitants. Among those groups studied, only the “self-employed group” seem to be more interested in ecotourism in comparison to other occupation classes. Gender differences in perceptions are prominent with reference to development options. While the men preferred economic opportunities, the women preferred improved living conditions. An evaluation mechanism similar to the one described in this paper will be helpful to the management authority to assess and modify their management plans to mitigate conflicts with local people.     

UN Department of Technical Co-operation for Development regional seminar activities in 1989

The purpose of the United Nations' mineral exploration activities is to assist developing countries in identifying, evaluating and developing their mineral resources as a means of stimulating their economic development. Since 1978, these programmes have been executed by the Natural Resources and Energy Division of the Department of Technical Co-operation for Development (DTCD) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) providing the bulk of the financing. In the past 30 years, more than 450 projects in some 100 developing countries have been executed at a cost estimated at US$600 million. This input has contributed to the discovery of deposits valued at billions of dollars, many of which are now being mined.     

土地利用规划与旅游规划协调研究

就土地利用规划和旅游规划之间难以衔接与协调的问题,依据规划及社会经济发展的基本原则,从"两规"的差异性、"两规"协调的理论和法律依据、"两规"协调的途径三个方面,试图分析和解决这一长期困扰土地利用规划界与旅游规划界的难题.     

环境规划在我国规划体系中的定位及转型

结合对我国的规划体系及其发展方向的分析,指出了目前环境规划忽视对国土空间进行谋划的问题,并对其转型方向提出了建议。主要结论：环境规划应当在继续履行好争取财政资金等社会资源功能的同时,增强对资源环境承载能力这一重要自然资源的配置功能,转变为横跨国民经济和社会发展、国土空间开发管制两大领域的综合性规划;要加强环境保护空间管制的基础性研究,建立一套约束性环境规划指标体系,增强其权威性和可操作性,充分发挥规划的作用。     

Planning and development

The paper describes the development role of the London Docklands Development Corporation and what sort of plan it uses. It describes the government initiative that promoted the regeneration idea and appraises the Dockland's approach. Finally, it discusses local authority involvement in the Urban Development Corporation's initiatives.     

A course in Environmental Planning and Management

Summary This paper describes a 13-weeks, third-year course in Environmental Planning and Management developed and taught by the authors. Initiated in 1969, the course consists of a mix of lectures, seminars, workshop/laboratory sessions and field-based projects. The objectives of the course are for students: to become aware of the need for, and the complexities of, environmental management; to be able to criticise constructively work done by environmental agencies and consultants, managers and decision makers; and to learn and apply some of the methods and techniques used in environmental management.Topics covered by the current syllabus are: concepts of resource and environment; constitutional aspects; international law and the environment; Australian and Canadian environmental legislation and agencies; human manipulation of ecosystems; energy subsidies; modification of biogeochemical cycles; population dynamics and cropping; fisheries; national parks and reserves—policies in different countries; international heritage areas; environmental assessment (including impact assessment, land evaluation, land capability and land suitability assessment); and regional, integrated land-use and environmental planning and management. Techniques taught include: field surveys and interviewing; laboratory analysis of selected water quality, sediment and soil parameters including nutrient concentrations, heavy metal and pesticide residues; and for some students, applications of geographic information systems (GIS) technology following preceding GIS courses.A major problem is selecting the most appropriate mix between the social and natural sciences—appropriate, first in terms of students' heterogeneous skills and backgrounds, and second, in terms of understanding the causes of environmental problems and issues, and devising practicable solutions.     

Planning in the countryside

The author considers the present greater awareness of the needs of the countryside brought about through public debate of the issues involved. The nature of countryside policies is considered and recent developments described. The paper concludes that much more positive planning is being undertaken to conserve the countryside, whilst allowing rural development to take place.     

景观规划创意与生态旅游的结合--转山湖水库风景区概念性规划简介

本文结合生态旅游讨论一个水库风景区的景观规划创意,从生态规划角度对人与环境的共生主题进行探讨,突出水域生态资源与环境保护可持续发展这一中心,提倡规划项目与时代需要的深入结合,并在具体规划中关注人与环境的共生性问题。     

Collaborative Watershed Planning in Washington State: Implementing the Watershed Planning Act

In 1998 the Washington State Legislature enacted the Watershed Planning Act, which encourages local governments to develop watershed plans using collaborative processes. Objectives of the statute are to address water resource and water quality issues, salmon habitat needs and to establish instream flows. This exploratory study sought to examine two aspects of how local governments are implementing the Act: challenges and benefits associated with collaborative watershed planning and the capacity of local governments to conduct collaborative watershed planning. Using documents and interview data from four cases, it was found that all planning groups experience similar challenges, although newer planning groups experienced more challenges than groups with previous planning experience. Challenges include issues surrounding the collaborative process, interagency co-ordination and trust. Local governments struggle with building capacity to plan, particularly in the areas of funding, technical expertise, incentives for participation, adequate time to conduct planning and questions regarding appropriate scale and scope of their planning efforts. Despite the challenges, collaborative watershed planning is well underway, with more than 37 planning units conducting planning under the Act.     

Community-based Environmental Planning: Operational Dilemmas,Planning Principles and Possible Remedies

The operational dilemmas and challenges associated with the practice of community-based environmental planning (CBEP) are examined. The paper examines the frequently invoked ‘bottom-up’ versus ‘top-down’ dichotomy and argues that environmental governance is more complex, dynamic and multi-scalar than this simple dichotomy implies. The paper identifies six key problems with the CBEP approach: (i) the conceptualization of ‘community’ which poorly accounts for difference; (ii) problems of inequality; (iii) the organizational capacity and efficacy of community groups; (iv) the scale of CBEP; (v) the types of knowledge utilized by communities in environmental management; and (vi) the potential for parochial concerns to dominate the priorities and agenda of community organizations. The paper analyses each of these issues, identifies planning principles that may aid resolution, and suggests possible remedies.     

Using Multicriteria Methods in Environmental Planning and Management

In environmental planning and decision processes several alternatives are analyzed in terms of multiple noncommensurate criteria, and many different stakeholders with conflicting preferences are involved. Based on our experience in real-life applications, we discuss how multicriteria decision aid (MCDA) methods can be used successfully in such processes. MCDA methods support these processes by providing a framework for collecting, storing, and processing all relevant information, thus making the decision process traceable and transparent. It is therefore possible to understand and explain why, under several conflicting preferences, a particular decision was made. The MCDA framework also makes the requirements for new information explicit, thus supporting the allocation of resources for the process.     

Land Use Planning and Waste Management in Scotland

This study considers the planning system in Scotland as it relates to waste management. It examines local, structure and waste disposal plans in nine areas to identify links between the two systems. Initial findings reveal that statutory plans have limited influence on the location of new waste facilities and the reasons for this are explored. The European Union now requires the preparation of a National Waste Strategy (NWS) based on the principle of the waste hierarchy. The research concludes that effective waste management requires a close relationship between the NWS and development plans.     

土地利用规划与新农村建设用地规划协调研究

比较分析了土地利用总体规划与新农村建设用地规划之间的关系：两种规划的核心目的、理论、方法及依据的法律法规都相同或相似,它们之间的矛盾性在于规划的出发点和内容、规划的时间与空间范围、规划用地类型和评价系统等的差异以及其它人为因素。在此基础上,从规划的编制、实施管理等方面提出了具体的协调途径。     

区域规划及其开发的若干问题

本文运用区域规划的基本原则，分析了当前区域规划工作的状况和特点，指出了规划工作和宏观调控的现实意义，并提出了加强规划工作的建议．