A global security approach towards implementing sustainable development in southern Africa

SUMMARY

An interactive and incremental developmental approach to sustainable development is proposed. It requires broad public participation, is based on the development of a shared value system for civic society and norms which determine the behaviour of states. It is aimed at building commitment rather than directing change. This is achieved by simultaneoulsy harnessing the notions of ‘positive human survival’ adopted from Global Security theory and a co-evolutionary approach to human socio-economic constructs. Modern threats to Nation States can be regarded as ‘threats without enemies’, are not compatible with traditional views of sovereignty, and confronting such threats frequently requires co-operative behaviour and good neigbourliness from states. Principles likely to underpin an evolving shared value system for Nation states and civil society include: democracy, equity and diversity. In order to deal with the uncertainty of evolving socio-economic constructs and the conceptual pluralism inherent in modern societies, public agencies need to develop significant mediation, negotiation and facilitation skills. This view has significant implications for National and Regional policy, and the democratisation of information and the development of early warning capabilities about potential threats to human security are pivotal.     

Explaining the status and scope of ecotourism development for livelihood security: Andaman and Nicobar Islands,India

In the past few decades, the tourism sector has emerged as a significant economic activity in island nations, particularly in tropical regions. However, most of the tropical islands face similar constraints, viz., threat to natural resources, chances of biopiracy, impact of climate change, population pressure and unsystematic tourist management. Ecotourism, as a concept, envisages promoting tourism with due regard to natural environment and ecological sanctity of the destination. Archipelago of Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands is one of picturesque geographical creation in the Bay of Bengal, India, in tropical region and is an emerging tourist destination. It was observed that around 2.2 lakhs national and international tourists visit the A&N Islands annually. With tourism sector as an integral component, the service sector with share of 56% in gross state domestic product dominates the island economy. An analysis based on primary survey from various stakeholders associated with the sector revealed that factors such as economy in travel and boarding, availability of tourist facilities and comfort, safety, etc. were major factors that determined the choice of the tourists that visited the islands. The weights given by the tourists to the natural sites in A&N Islands revealed that the landscape topped list with 91.6% score by the visitors followed by beaches (91.3%), scenery (86.5%), reserved forests (84.6%), limestone caves (66.3%) and coral sights (65.8%). Coral sites were given weight of 65.8% of tourists, cultural and historical tourism products 85.4% for the natural history. Similarly, historical sites (83.7%), museums (78.6%) and heritage sites (72.8%) were also among top cites attraction. Recent initiatives by the Andaman administration gives due to care to sustainably develop the tourism infrastructure of the islands to harness the potential of eco-friendly tourism in this picturesque tourist haven.     

广东省生态可持续发展定量研究:生态足迹时间维动态分析

生态足迹是一种定量测度生态可持续发展状态的指标和方法以支持可持续发展的决策。以广东省为案例，对广东1990年至2002年时间维的生态足迹及生态承载力进行计算和动态分析。结果表明，13年来，广东人均生态足迹和生态赤字不断增加，人均生态足迹从1990年的1．253hm^2增加至2002年的1．784hm^2，增加了42．38％；人均生态足迹赤字从0．817hm^2增加至2002年的1．393hm^2，但万元GDP生态足迹逐年下降。横向比较分析表明，广东2000年的人均生态足迹为1．636hm^2，低于全球平均水平(2．8hm^2)，同时也处于全球人均生态承载力(2．0hm^2)的范围，但超过中国人均生态承载力水平(O．681hm^2)；人均生态赤字(1．246hm^2)也高于世界平均水平(0．8hm^2)。因此，广东虽在全球尺度处于生态可持续发展状态，但生态系统的压力和强度甚高。     

A case study of sustainable development in the Sistan-Balochistan province of Iran

Sustainable development is a key factor for economic growth in the twenty-first century. It can be achieved in two stages, the first stage is to conserve and protect forest and other parts of the environment and the second stage is to have an appropriate economic plan to produce more agricultural and industrial goods. This investigation evaluates a possible method for sustainable development in the Sistan-Balochistan Province of Iran. Sistan-Balochistan has the lowest economic growth rate due to severe geographical and environmental constrains.     

Sustainable development in the BRICS countries: an efficiency analysis by data envelopment

There is much concern about the social and environmental impacts caused by the economic growth of nations. Thus, to evaluate the socio-economic performance of nations, economists have increasingly addressed matters related to social welfare and the environment. It is within the scope of this context that this work discusses the performance of countries in the BRICS group regarding sustainable development. The objective of this study regards evaluating the efficiency of these countries in transforming productive resources and technological innovation into sustainable development. The proposed objective was achieved by using econometric tools as well as the data envelopment analysis method to then create economic, environmental, and social efficiency rankings for the BRICS countries, which enabled to carry out comparative analyses on the sustainable development of those countries. The results of such assessments can be of interest for more specific scientific explorations.