Community sustainability: a holistic approach to measuring the sustainability of rural communities in Scotland

ABSTRACT

Although sustainable development was defined in the Brundtland Report almost 30 years ago, the current usage of the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development remain highly equivocal. In the context of rural communities, multiple interpretations and weak definitions lead to confusion in understanding what comprises a sustainable rural community. Building on existing definitions (e.g. Baker’s, 2006, ‘Ladder of Sustainable Development’), models (principally, The Egan Review’s, 2004, ‘Components of Sustainable Communities’) and findings of this study, a sustainable community is defined and a holistic model of a sustainable place-based rural community is presented. This model, the sustainable community design (SCD) is used as the basis for analysing community sustainability, which is measured using mixed methods and scorecard assessment. Sensitivity of the method is demonstrated with inter- and intra-community variations in sustainability across three diverse Scottish rural communities. Intra-community variations illustrate heterogeneity in community sustainability, explain ambiguity in characterisations of an individual community’s sustainability, and highlight the importance of an interdisciplinary and holistic approach to community development. The SCD framework is presented as a useful tool for meso-level sustainability assessment and to facilitate the sustainable development of rural communities.     

Facilitating resilient rural-to-urban sustainable agriculture and rural communities

ABSTRACT

This article contributes to efforts to validate a common set of parameters and principles of sustainable agriculture. Comparisons between alternative forms of sustainable agriculture and rural-to-urban community resilience are investigated. Conclusions are drawn between multiple sustainable/alternative agriculture systems and evaluated. A set of common baseline parameters and principles is proposed as a method of evolving a common structural framework for strengthening sustainability of agriculture and rural contexts. Concepts of rural-to-urban community sustainability are proposed, supporting sustainable agriculture contexts as rural and urban. In the twenty-first century, agriculture is becoming more diversified and less typified as a rural occupation. Urban agriculture is expanding as the need for fresh, affordable, accessible agriculture produce increases in urban areas. Evidence supports symbiotic relationships between sustainable agriculture and rural/urban communities, although some claim this relationship has not been clearly defined.

This article investigates sustainable agriculture from two perspectives. We ask ‘what are common parameters and principles of the various forms of sustainable agriculture,’ and ‘why urban-to-rural context.’ Organic agriculture parameters and principles are proposed as a conceptual framework toward establishing baseline parameters and principles for sustainable agriculture. Best management parameters of urban and rural sustainable agriculture in the United States and the United Kingdom are examined for their potential to develop a strengthening framework of parameters and principles of agriculture and rural-to-urban sustainability. These results are compared and evaluated for their effectiveness in redefining current sustainable agriculture practices, and their value in strengthening sustainable agriculture symbiosis with rural-to-urban community systems.     

Water shortage: a serious problem in sustainable development of China

SUMMARY

Water crises have occurred in more than 400 cities in China at the beginning of 2000. Investigation and statistical data suggest that there are five main problems in the management and utilization of water resources in China. These are (1) insufficient capacity and inhomogeneous space-time distribution of natural resources, (2) outdated construction of water conservancy projects and supply engineering, (3) unreasonable industrial water consumption, (4) increased water pollution and (5) incomplete management of the river basin and waterworks in city. It is necessary to take steps corresponding to the above-mentioned reasons to mitigate and even dispel the pressure on water resources for sustainable development of China as quickly as possible.     

黄土高原绿色建筑体系评价指标体系

阐述了绿色建筑体系是可持续发展的人类住区,介绍了可持续发展人类住区和可持续发展评价指标体系国内外研究状况,提出了建立绿色建筑体系评价指标体系的原则,提出了黄土高原县,乡,镇层次上的绿色建筑体系评价指标体系框架,以及指标量化的方法。     

基于低碳经济的能源资源协调发展的研究

能源是经济发展的命脉。经济和能源的协调发展是社会发展的原动力。经济发展离开能源的基础,那将是无源之水,无本之木。所以,经济和能源应该协调发展,社会才能稳步前进。发展低碳经济是利用先进的技术和有效的管理方法与手段,保护资源,保护环境,实现社会和经济的可持续化发展的必由之路;是我国经济发展方式转型,产业结构调整过程中必须完成的紧迫任务之一。世界产业结构的变动,必然影响到开放度不断加大的我国,正是在这样的背景下,我国的煤炭及其他矿产品的出口不断增长。在我国融人经济全球化的过程中,要注意在接受国际产业结构调整对我国经济发展有利影响的同时,要用低碳经济的发展战略模式,避免消极影响危及我国经济的长期、根本利益。应该在这个大前提下,对我国自然资源进行有计划的开发和提高自然资源的有效利用。实现可持续发展已经成为中国社会经济发展的一个重要基本方针,可持续发展不仅要强调对环境的保护,而且应包括如何解决在人口已经高度密集,人均资源相对匮乏,自然生态环境已经十分脆弱的条件下,如何实现经济的长期高速发展,同时又要保护环境的这样一个史无前例的社会实践问题。低碳经济和能源资源的协调发展就成了解决这一问题的必经之路。能源既是重要的必不可少的经济发展和社会生活的物质前提,又是现实的重要污染来源,解决好我国的能源可持续发展战略问题,是实现我国社会经济可持续发展的重要环节。     

稻田流失养分循环利用系统构建研究初探

针对长江三角洲经济发达地区集约化农田化肥投入超量、稻区水体N、P、K富集度超高,农田生态环境遭到严重破坏等现状,该文系统研究了农田流失养分从农田到水体,再由水体回到农田的循环利用过程,并构建农田养分流失循环利用系统工程,为我国农田流失养分循环利用和农业生态环境健康提供科技支撑。研究结果表明：本区域农田面积为18.6 hm2,水稻季农田化肥N、P、K投入量分别为305.7、44.9、150.8 kg·hm-2;整个水稻季本区域农田地表径流量为4 518.0 kg·hm-2,其中N、P、K流失量分别为16.6、0.5、9.6 kg·hm-2,占水稻季N、P、K肥投入量的5.45%、1.07%和6.37%;农田周围净化池塘中水生植物的N、P、K拦截量分别为67.8、8.1、99.7 kg,分别占本研究区域N、P、K流入量的21.84%、90.31%和55.73%。将水生植物还田,晒干水葫芦（Halerpestes cymbalaria）按4 500 kg·hm-2农田施用,可分别减少农田化肥N、P、K的投入量106.2、9.5、105.8 kg·hm-2。该研究成果对于减轻农业生产面源污染,推进农业生产可持续发展具有积极意义。     

Rural well-being: the push and pull and the diversity in-between

This article proposes an analytical framework for developing indicators of agriculture and rural community sustainability, including the symbiotic relationship between sustainable agriculture and rural well-being. Rural well-being offers a sustainable approach to healthy lifestyles that are based on a balance of many complex components including social, economic, and environmental issues. The United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) have taken positions on these issues. The United States Department of Agriculture is ‘committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in rural America’ through loans and subsidies (USDA 2015). The USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program vision is to sustain ‘an enduring American agriculture of the highest quality that is profitable, protects the nation’s land and water and is a force, providing a healthy and rewarding way of life for farmers and ranchers whose quality products and operations sustain their communities and society’ (SARE 2016; Smart, Sandt and Chris Zdorovtsov 2016). UK government and non-government agencies have taken a more holistic approach to rural well-being in their efforts to achieve a more balanced social–economic–environmental state of rural well-being. The UK interpretation of Community Supported Agriculture is a tested example of this sustainable approach to fostering rural well-being (Saltmarsh et al. 2011).     

Water resource conservation promotes synergy between economy and environment in China’s northern drylands

•Considering evenness provides a more accurate assessment of sustainable development. •Water resource conservation drives industrial transformation. •Synergy between economic development and environmental protection is achieved. •Regional collaboration over water could promote sustainable development in drylands. Water resource availability is the major limiting factor for sustainable development in drylands. Climate change intensifies the conflicting water demands between people and the environment and highlights the importance of effective water resource management for achieving a balance between economic development and environmental protection. In 2008, Inner Mongolia, typical dryland in northern China, proposed strict regulations on water exploitation and utilization aimed at achieving sustainable development. Our study is the first to investigate the effectiveness and performance of these long-standing water conservation regulations. Our analyses found that the regulations drove industrial transformation, evidenced by the decreasing proportion of environmentally harmful industries such as coal and steel, and the increasing proportion of tertiary industries (especially tourism). Following industrial transformation, economic development decoupled from industrial water consumption and subsequently led to reduced negative environmental impacts. Based on these results, adaptive strategies were developed for 12 cities by revealing and integrating their development pathways and relative status in achieving sustainable development. Integration and cooperation between cities were proposed, e.g., a water trade agreement between eastern Inner Mongolia (an economically underdeveloped region with relatively abundant water resources) and central Inner Mongolia (an economically developed region with high water stress). Such an agreement may enable the holistic achievement of sustainable development across regions. By integrating the findings of our research, our study presents a reproducible framework for water-management-based sustainable development strategies in drylands.     

城市规划与城市可持续发展

城市可持续发展是人类全面实施可持续发展战略的一个重要方面,它有其特定的内涵。城市规划是实施城市可持续发展战略的有效工具,在城市规划中引入可持续发展理论是引导城市可持续发展的重要一环。以可持续发展为原则的城市规划应突出其未来导向性、环境导向性、社会导向性的特点,文章就其含义及实现途径进行了分析和探讨。     

Some for all,forever — sustainable development and management of water resources

SUMMARY

The notion of sustainable development in the context of water resources is discussed. Facing the increasing pressures — population growth with consequences for settlements and production of food and fibre, and human aspirations to better living standards — the business-as-usual approach to water development and management cannot he globally sustainable. The need for curbing water demands and for ‘doing more with less’ are gaining growing recognition in our increasingly thirsty planet. An integrated approach to freshwater resources is needed, based on the perception of water as a natural resource, part of the ecosystem, and an economic and social good. It is discussed how hydrological extremes jeopardize sustainable development. Sustainability-related properties of drought and flood preparedness and mitigation measures are reviewed. Even if the term ‘sustainable development’ has been typically used in a qualitative sense, in order to compare how different options (e.g. flood protection alternatives) fare with regard to sustainable development, one needs at least rough quantitative measures. A sample of relevant indices is reviewed. It is advocated that hydrological observations should be recognized as an essential component of sustainable development and management of water resources.     

东北地区生态环境态势及其可持续发展对策

阐述了东北地区存在的主要生态环境问题,分析了未来发展趋势,并从可持续发展视角提出了相关对策。研究表明,东北地区可采森林资源枯竭,荒漠化严重,黑土质量退化,湿地萎缩,城市河段水质污染严重,大城市大气污染严重,部分地区酸雨问题突出,资源型城市矿山环境问题严重;而受全球环境变化影响、振兴东北政策驱动以及某些新的污染问题的凸显,未来东北地区生态环境仍存在恶化趋势。今后须结合东北地区实际,完善生态环境监测体系,加强科学系统研究;加大技术创新力度,大力发展循环经济;转变经济增长方式,推进产业结构优化升级;营造绿色文化,加强基础制度建设;实施重大工程措施,加大生态环境保护与恢复力度。从总体上促进生态环境可持续发展,保障老工业基地全面振兴。     

Hydro-epidemiology: the emergence of a research agenda

There is a growing international awareness of the health risks associated with water, and particularly in developing countries. For example: (i) a child dies in Africa every 30s due to malaria—a disease related to stagnant water, (ii) every year flooding causes many deaths world-wide, with infant mortality due to diarrhea from contaminated flood waters posing the biggest threat, and (iii) poor sanitation and its relation to hepatitis A continues to be a serious problem. A revealing measure of the extent of such global problems is that more than half of the hospital beds in the world today are occupied by people with water-related diseases. Addressing these issues mandates an interdisciplinary approach by the world’s scientific and engineering community. In this spirit a workshop was held in Phoenix to provide a forum where epidemiologists, hydraulics researchers and other stakeholders of varied backgrounds (e.g., policy makers, environmental groups etc.) could all participate in a debate on a future agenda for hydro-epidemiology. The principal outcome of the workshop was a significant appreciation of the potential for interdisciplinary research and development in hydro-epidemiology and the major contribution that hydraulics professionals could offer, in partnership with the public health community, in addressing such water related disease control and prevention challenges.     

An optimization approach for sustainable release of e-flows for lake restoration and preservation: Model development and a case study of Baiyangdian Lake, China

In this paper, we describe the development of a model for the sustainable release of e-flows from the regional water resource infrastructure (e.g., reservoirs, rivers with available water) for lake restoration and preservation, and use the model in a case study of Baiyangdian Lake, China. First, we define the sustainable environmental flows (e-flows), with an emphasis on the ecological importance of temporal variation in factors such as water level (depth). By analyzing historical data on the suitable range of water levels in the lake, we evaluated fluctuations using canonical correspondence analysis and frequency distribution analysis. The temporal variations required by the ecosystem of the lake were also assessed. Based on this approach, we developed an optimization model for sustainable release of e-flows. We used the adaptive genetic algorithm approach to solve the model and determine the required release of e-flows. Scenario analysis then provided a range of potential management strategies for the e-flows. The optimal results are helpful to the lake managers to establish sustainable e-flow release schemes for the lake restoration and preservation.     

废水处理与利用生态工程—Ⅰ特征和原理

文章叙述了在生存和可持续发展中废水处理的需要,当前在我国存在的主要问题,废水处理与利用生态工程主要特点,并与传统的污水处理工程比较。较详阐述了生态工程基本原理,整体、协调、自生、循环。     

广州市区人工湖泊PFU原生动物群落群集过程及其对水质差异的指示作用

应用PFU法(GB／T12990-91)对广州市区主要湖泊——流花湖、荔湾湖和麓湖的原生动物群落与水质进行研究．结果表明：用PFU法所测定和计算的原生动物群集的种类数、植鞭虫指数、群集参数(SeqG、T90%)、群落多样性指数d和群落污染值(CPV)等都能较好地指示3个人工湖泊水质的差异，水质由优到劣的排列顺序为麓湖＞荔湾湖＞流花湖．流花湖、荔湾湖和麓湖目前虽仍处于富营养状态，但清污截流等对城市湖泊污染的综合治理措施可以减少湖泊外部营养物负荷及沉积物内负荷，降低水体的营养盐含量，有助于原生动物群落的恢复．图3表3参16     

Science and Society: Marine Reserve Design for the California Channel Islands

Abstract:  We explored the interaction of science and society in attempts to restore impaired marine ecosystems in Channel Islands National Park and National Marine Sanctuary, California. Deteriorating resource conditions triggered a community's desire to change public policy. Channel Islands National Park, one of 40 marine protected areas in the U.S. National Park System, was proclaimed a national monument in 1938 and expanded substantially in 1980 by an act of Congress. Collapse of marine life populations and loss of 80% of the giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forests in the park between 1980 and 1998 showed that habitat and water quality protection alone had not secured sustainable ocean ecosystems or fisheries. The failed fishery management strategies and practices prompted formal community and agency requests in 1998 for a network of reserves protected from direct fishing impacts to serve as marine recovery areas. A 2-year attempt to build a community consensus based on science for a reserve network successfully identified recovery goals for fisheries, biodiversity, education, economics, and heritage values. Nevertheless, the community group failed to garner unanimous support for a specific reserve network to achieve those common goals. The group submitted a recommendation, supported by 14 of 16 members, to state and federal authorities in 2001 for action in their respective jurisdictions. California adopted the half of the network in state waters in 2003. This process exposed the socioeconomic factors involved in the design of marine protected areas that can be negotiated successfully among groups of people and factors determined by nature that cannot be negotiated. Understanding the differences among the factors was crucial in reaching consensus and changing public policy.     

盐城市区污水资源化海涂生态工程研究

盐城市区污水资源化海涂生态工程是根据“控源导流”整治战略构建的一项示范工程。拟将盐城市区污水截流入网,用污水渠道送至海涂生态工程,实现污水治理和资源化利用的结合。全程实行４级水质控制,生态工程的场址选择遵循“四忌四宜”原则,即忌人群、忌饮水、忌生食食品、忌超载,宜苇、宜林,宜草,宜粮。     

水肥耦合与旱地农业持续发展

水资源不足及人口增长给农业生产增加了很大压力,寻求开发旱农区相对丰富的土地资源成为满足需求增长的重要方法。文章讨论了旱地农业持续发展的限制因子、旱地水肥关系、水肥耦合效应机理以及水肥耦合对旱地农业持续发展的意义。     

On measuring sustainable development indicators

Sustainable development, as proposed by the Brundtland Report, requires carefully managed change to improve environmental and economic conditions as well as the quality of life for all people. Some of the problems involved in this demanding challenge faced by individuals, local communities, nations and the international community are discussed. In particular, nine indicators of sustainable development—gleaned from economic, socioeconomic and environmental studies—are critically reviewed. It is argued that a programme of detailed theoretical and empirical research is needed to develop a series of measures or indicators of sustainable development for strategic decision making and detailed environmental management.     

Coastal livelihoods,poverty and well-being in Mexico. A case study of institutional and social constraints

The aim of this study is twofold. First, it explores the local discourses of poverty and well-being in a fishing community in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Second, the study examines the several constraints that fishers face for secure and sustainable livelihoods. The assessment used the sustainable livelihoods framework as analytical approach. The study concluded that poverty and marginalization in this fishing community is closely linked with institutional and social factors rather than to economics issues. The most severe constraints observed were corruption in the allocation of fishing licenses and permits, social exclusion and marginalization of new settlers and domestic violence associated with alcoholism and drug addictions. The current discourse that explains poverty exclusively in economic terms is discussed largely and confronted with empirical evidence. Finally, the study emphasizes the necessity to implement a marine protected area in the region, with the aim to preserve the marine resources as well as to establish a normative framework which guarantees transparency and justice in the resources allocation.