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Sustainable river management requires strong participation from technical and nontechnical experts. However, in many cases, the nontechnical element is lacking. This paper explores possibilities for participation that can emerge from a reorientation toward dialog. This reorientation is supported by a sociogeomorphological approach, which encourages recognition of the physical and social coproduction of a fluvial landscape, including a history of colonization and landscape degradation. Recognition of this sociogeomorphic context invited dialog with stakeholders involved in river management, which revealed opportunities for improving relationships in river management. The paper argues that dialog supports building interpersonal relationships as a basis for river management, where relationships could replace “stakes” as a structure for participation. Following reorientation, relationship development and maintenance, through dialog, emerges as a key activity of environmental management. Because dialog happens at the interpersonal scale, a relational approach has potential implications for researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders in many fields of environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the suitability of community-based conservation measures to complement a proposed command-and-control approach for two multi-user bays with spinner dolphins in Hawai`i, USA, which have considerable dolphin watching tourist activities and human–dolphin interactions. The paper uses Ostrom's common-pool resource theory as an analytical lens, with an assessment of the attributes of the resource and the user(s) to explore questions of governance and sustainability. In Hawai`i, spinner dolphins move predictably from offshore overnight feeding grounds into shallow bays for daytime rest, interacting frequently with humans using these bays for tourism and other social, recreational, and subsistence purposes. To reduce the current negative interactions with dolphins, managers are seeking to implement a command-and-control approach, namely time–area closures. Our analysis indicates that viewing the bay as a resource with tourism as one of many human demands, instead of specifically focusing on dolphins, reflects an ecosystem-based approach and acknowledges complex management demands. We found that while unrealistic to expect community-based conservation to spontaneously emerge here, cultivating some of Ostrom's attributes among stakeholders might lead to a more productive set of institutional arrangements that would benefit the dolphin population, with the methodology used potentially leading to a global management model. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A group of smallholders in Vietnam has obtained Forest Stewardship Council certification (FSC) for their Acacia plantation forest. Although the certification aims to improve livelihoods via economic, social, and environmental benefits, there are concerns amongst smallholders regarding the outcomes from their certification decision as well as difficulties in maintaining the certification. This article assesses the benefits and challenges of forest management certification from the perspective of small household groups who have achieved FSC certification. The FSC has brought new opportunities for farmers, such as increased selling price and extended trade networks, but is also associated with significant obstacles such as high initial and annual surveillance audit fees, difficult paper work, and complicated procedures for selling wood. Additionally, the small size of the plantations and low expertise in forest management make it more difficult and costly for farmers to achieve certification. There is a heavy dependency on donors for financial and technical support. Because subsidies from organizations like the World Wide Fund for Nature Vietnam are unlikely to continue indefinitely, the benefit of certification for smallholders is uncertain. Feasible actions to increase the sustainability of the group are suggested, including increasing the responsibility of the group members, enhancing the awareness and capacity of the local people, and searching for additional support from other organizations and wood processing companies. From the macro level, a national forest stewardship council should be established so that the audit cost for certification would be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological diversity is an abstract, scientific concept and both evaluating its condition and, to great extent, justifying its conservation requires expert knowledge. Accordingly, regulating and managing biological diversity presupposes standardisation and methods for managing uncertainty. To be acted on, the concept must be promoted, passing, in this process, through various institutions, such as intergovernmental organisations and national administrations. This paper examines how the principle of biological diversity conservation is defined, focusing on the values of biological diversity and how this notion has 'travelled the world'. The paper includes a study of how the principle of biological diversity was applied in a specific case of insect control in Sweden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable forest management (SFM) or ecosystem management is now the stated goal of forest managers in most countries. SFM takes a longer-term, broader perspective on forest values than timber production or the narrow multiple use regimes of the past. As a result of international activities including the International Tropical Timber Organization, the Ministerial Council on Protection of Forests in Europe and the Montreal Process for temperate and boreal forests outside Europe, there are now sufficiently specific and agreed principles, criteria and indicators (C&I) to guide policy makers towards SFM. To achieve SFM requires holistic assessments of forest management systems in terms of these C&I to ensure the delivery of sustainable outcomes across forest regions. This paper focuses on the implementation of SFM as defined by the C&I, and, in particular, how to identify needed reforms in forest management systems. The paper explains and evaluates the International Standards Organization's (ISO's) environmental management systems (EMS) ISO14000/EMS approach adopted for this purpose in Australia to assess the adequacy of forest management systems. The approach was applied as a key element in the regional forest agreements prepared to meet the Australian National Forest Policy Statement. The ISO14000/EMS, in conjunction with the SFM criteria, provides a systematic approach to assessing forest management systems to reveal the adequacy of the legislative, planning, implementation, monitoring and review of all-tenure forest management as required by SFM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's rapid urbanization and its success in developing the Internet of Things (IoT) will decide its future development direction. The construction of sustainable cities is crucial to China because China has such a large population. The Xiamen Long-term Urban Ecosystem Observation and Research Station (Xiamen LUEORS) was started in 2006, together with the research related to the Environmental Internet of Things (EIoT) for Xiamen LUEORS. This paper explains the purpose, general framework, and main features of EIoT, and outlines the results of performing EIoT experiments in some areas, including a ‘town village’, a peculiar phenomenon of China's urbanization. It also discusses the development trends of IoT and proposes the concept of ZeroSpace Interconnection of Things (ZeroIoT, or ZeroSIT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid economic development has led to urban sprawl and threatens river systems. In this paper, we used geographic information system (GIS) techniques to examine the effects of urbanisation on the water resources of the Yanggong River watershed in Lijiang City, and analysed the temporal changes in river systems and their impacts on watershed ecosystem functions. The total length of the river systems in the Yanggong River watershed decreased from 786.9 km in 1995 to 674.2 km in 2009 and is predicted to continue to decrease by 35.5 km in the next 11 years according to various data sources. The decrease in river system density started in the Old Town of Lijiang and gradually spread to the surrounding areas. Our analysis shows that urbanisation is failing to take into account the impacts on river systems and their functions, which could cause a reduction in the size of the river systems and degradation of watershed ecosystem functions in the Yanggong River watershed of Lijiang City. It is suggested that protecting the natural river network and making full use of the advantages of the distinctive terrain in the Yanggong River watershed could contribute to the sustainability of urban development in Lijiang City. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo forests, due to their special characteristics and ecological functions, play an important role in sustainable forest management and rural development in China. Over the past two decades, China has successfully established millions of hectares of bamboo forest, which has restored fragile ecosystems, provided benefits to local communities, alleviated rural poverty and eased timber shortages. However, there is potential for further improvements to the bamboo forest estate. This paper analyses the current state of bamboo forest resources and management, and the roles of the bamboo forest industry in social development, economic growth and ecosystem protection in China. We examine the main issues related to governance systems, local economic development and traditional management practices. Finally, we suggest some directions for future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lugu Lake region, containing a plateau lake, and the unique matrichal society of the Mosuo, has become one of the most important areas for ecosystem conservation and cultural heritage protection in China. It is essential to pursue sustainable development in Lugu Lake region. However, rapid increases in the tourism industry have had negative influences on society, the economy and the environment of Lugu Lake region. Extensive concerns have been raised by numerous ecologists, economists and social scientists over recent years. Using systems analysis of major societal, economic and environmental problems, this paper advocates goals for realising sustainable development. A double-layer management model has been developed of regional ecosystem services, composed of natural ecosystem management and macro-control of society and the economy, and has been used to analyse the importance and feasibility of ecotourism development in Lugu Lake region. Constructive management measures and development strategies are then proposed to achieve sustainable development in Lugu Lake region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important and necessary for sustainable management of regional ecosystems to establish a framework for dynamic monitoring of ecosystem change (DMEC). For sustainable ecosystem management of the Lugu Lake region, the key issues addressed in DMEC are monitoring range, principles, intervals, site and indices, which can be used to create a framework for long-term DMEC for a region. This paper puts forward a new method to combine remote sensing with field investigations to achieve accurate and appropriate changes in a regional ecosystem. Because regional ecosystem change is closely related to local inhabitants, the authors also consider the participation of these people. Finally, the use of DMEC to provide a framework for decision-making and sustainable management of a regional ecosystem is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Three Gorges Reservoir area contains high mountains and deep valleys. The fragile mountainous ecosystems are facing problems such as overpopulation, less available farmland, ecological degradation and poverty. The construction of the Three Gorges Project and a series of ecological restoration activities and social-economic changes have influenced the present and future viability of this area. The measures which have been taken indicate that restoring and renewing the degraded ecosystems and improving the economy is a prerequisite and is possible. Yunyang, a typical county, both in terms of poverty and ecological degradation in the Three Gorges Reservoir area of Chongqing Municipality, was chosen for the case study. This paper discusses the impacts of the Grain-for-Green project, ecological agriculture, urban and infrastructure building and ecological immigrants on the regional sustainable development through detailed field investigation and a questionnaire survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the changing roles of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) as trans-boundary actors in environmental management and sustainable tourism development in Southern Africa. It specifically examines the lead role played by the Zambezi Society (ZAMSOC) in campaigning for, and promoting, sustainable tourism in the Zambezi ecoregion. ZAMSOC has made significant strides in key areas, notably safeguarding the wilderness and wetlands of the Zambezi River system by opposing environmentally damaging tourism infrastructure; developing guidelines for wilderness-sensitive tourism practices; encouraging greater cross-border cooperation; designing pollution control measures and lobbying for more profound partnerships between the tourism industry and local communities to achieve a fairer distribution of tourism profits for host communities. In this regard, ZAMSOC's pioneering concept of trans-border `People's Conservancies' is but one example. While acknowledging ZAMSOC's achievements, the paper argues that the workload for the NGO may undermine its effectiveness in the long term considering that it operates in a context where new social movements, especially the environmental movement, are not deeply rooted among indigenous communities. However, despite these challenges, ZAMSOC's activities are reflective of how environmental activism transcends geophysical and geopolitical boundaries effectively championing the quest for sustainable tourism in ecologically sensitive bioregions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on dryland communities in Africa, and the possibility that population growth and environmental management may occur together in the right circumstances. Claim that a successful intersection of ecosystem and human system may be evident in four domains, including ecosystem management, land investments, productivity and personal incomes or welfare; Chart explaining these domains and their indicators; Exploration of sustainable development in different African regions, including the Machakos District in Kenya, the Kano state in Nigeria, the Diourbel Region in Senegal and the Maradi Department in Niger.

This paper takes a look at how Evolutionary Systems Design (ESD) may be used as a pragmatic platform for sustainable development initiatives that focus on individual and community empowerment. It begins with a review of ESD as a praxis that draws on General Evolution Theory and Social Systems Design methodology, in addition to Critical Systems Theory, to engage in lifelong learning and human development in partnership with Earth. The origins and foundation of ESD are portrayed as providing the basis for a framework that bridges evolutionary consciousness and evolutionary action. The roots of ESD are traced back to General Evolution Theory on the one hand and to the notions of evolutionary stewardship that grew out of the action-inquiry encounters fostered by the International Systems Institute on the other. It is described how these notions were given operational viability through the methodology of Social Systems Design. Distinctions between growth, development, and evolution are made in order to clarify the principles of sustainability as both a product and a process of ongoing emergence. The fundamental tenets of ESD are presented and discussed by way of a four-stage evolutionary learning framework. Finally, the vehicle of the Evolutionary Learning Community through which ESD operates is shown to embody the potential for individuals and groups to think, live, and act in harmony with the dynamics of which they are a part as a means to guide the conscious creation of sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews and examines the potential of systematic and formalised interdisciplinary research concepts and methods for sustainable water and wetland policy and management, as advocated by the recently adopted European Water Framework Directive. Such potential lies in the integration of insights, methods and data drawn from natural and social sciences. The concept of integrated assessment is first defined in a preliminary way and is then reviewed from a range of methodological and policy analysis viewpoints. This overview addresses issues such as (1) the need for vertical and horizontal integration when linking information demand and supply; (2) procedural steps in integrated assessment; (3) useful frameworks to structure and handle complexity and uncertainty; (4) the distinction and correlation between ecological and social values of aquatic ecosystems; (5) available evaluation methods and techniques. Socially and politically sensitised forms of integrated assessment are an important step towards: (a) increasing awareness about the complex nature of the interdependency between our physical and socially constructed environment; (b) greater recognition that uncertainties and risk of irreversible change require careful consideration (precautionary principles) in decision-making, which may be facilitated by prior agreement on a sensible, preferably social learning based, evaluation process; (c) recognition that costs and benefits in complex decision-making circumstances are dynamic, as knowledge and experiences progress; (d) increasing public support for and trust in decisions because of greater transparency in the ex ante evaluation phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental education in school lessons makes a central contribution toward implementing the United Nations' requirement of sustainable development. In science lessons, various ecosystems can be examined to illustrate the consequences of anthropogenic influences on our environment. One important ecosystem is the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea. This has not been considered in science education research so far. The present study determines the effects of environmental education on the Wadden Sea on environmental psychological constructs. Therefore, 157 students (age: M = 14.4 years, SD = 0.5) were tested in a pre-post design with a subsequent follow-up test to determine changes in connectedness with nature and environmental attitudes as a result of the lessons. The Inclusion of Nature in Self Scale was used to elicit nature connectedness, and environmental attitudes were based on the Two Major Environmental Values model. For the statistical analysis of the data, a one-factor analysis of variance with repeated measures was performed in each case. Statistically significant short-term and long-term positive effects of the educational intervention on students' environmental attitudes and connectedness with nature were found. Thematizing the Wadden Sea in school lessons was found to promote the corresponding attitudes in the short term and long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognition of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem - lands that surround Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks - was hoped to facilitate regional sustainability. However, with over 30 federal, tribal, state, and local agencies; thousands of private businesses and landowners; over 175 non-government organizations; and more than 16 million users annually, the region has proven difficult to manage comprehensively. It is increasingly important to understand how local stakeholders perceive control over change and the responsible agents and actors. This is particularly important in amenity gateway communities where the relationship between public lands management and local community development have become increasingly complex in recent decades. Findings suggest that not only does community proximity and dependence on Yellowstone National Park and its policies influence perceptions of the actors and agents of change, but also perceptions directly influence how gateway communities address the challenges they face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Galapagos Archipelago (Ecuador) is one of the most well-known natural sites in the world for its unique biodiversity. This sensitive ecosystem is at risk due to a problematic equilibrium between its conservation policy and development demand. To contribute to implementing integrated sustainable resource management in the Galapagos Islands, a material flow analysis (MFA) of Santa Cruz – the island with the highest anthropic pressure in the archipelago – has been performed, outlining a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the direct flow of goods throughout the system. MFA outcomes have been used to evaluate and forecast the impact of some policies and strategies on the local system, focusing in particular on fossil fuel consumption and local agricultural production. This case study stresses the need to introduce a local MFA protocol to decision-makers’ toolbox, as it provides quantitative assessments on a broad spectrum of local development issues. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To improve the ecosystem service provided by open spaces in dispersed urban areas is a key challenge for sustainable spatial development in Europe. The typology presented in this article illustrates the different potentials that open spaces in territories-in-between have across 10 cases in Europe. Unlike other typologies, neither function nor form is used for the classification, but the potential interaction of open spaces with social, technical and ecological networks. Therefore, the typology informs regional spatial planning and design about the potential ecosystem services in networked urban regions. Thereby the importance of territories-in-between, which are often neglected by mainstream spatial planning and design, for sustainable development is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Ecosystems provide both goods and services that are necessary components of humans’ daily life and socio-economic development. Associated with rapid urbanization processes and tourism development in Shangri-La County over recent years, human activities have put a huge pressure on ecosystem conservation and management. In this special issue, we use the case of Shangri-La County to trace the evolution processes of various ecosystems, understand the relationship between natural resources utilization and environmental protection and pursue the goal of the sustainability of ecological services. The articles published in this special issue support a general conclusion that urban development and human activities are key factors that threaten ecosystem conservation and sustainable development in Shangri-La County. Relevant policies and measures concerning ecosystem conservation and ecotourism management are discussed in this special issue. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

From sustainable development (SD) through green growth to sustainable development plus (SD+)! Does the ‘+’ really matter? This is the question that brings life to this article and the answer is: YES, it does. The ‘+’ makes a huge difference especially for developing countries such as those from Africa that for a long time have not been fully brought on board in shaping global discourses and the preferred future global development agenda. This article argues that the time has come for globally privileged countries of the North to realise that operationalising ‘The Future We Want’ after Rio+20 demands that developing countries be accorded unpolluted space to contribute to providing answers to difficult and elusive questions on the unsustainable ways of the past development paradigms. Among such questions are: When will the issue of resource intensive development and overconsumption be finally answered? Can green growth transition be part of the solution? How will a post 2015 framework best address the needs of developing countries? The conclusion is that SD+ signals a deeper, wider and knowledge-based understanding of global (un) sustainable perspectives that result in global citizens understandingThe Future We Do Not Want. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The failure of conventional approaches to achieve equitable and sustainable water management has prompted a new way of perceiving and acting with water. This is creating a ‘new water paradigm’ that emphasizes broader stakeholder involvement; integration of sectors, issues and disciplines; attention to the human dimensions of management; and wider recognition of the economic, ecological and cultural values of water. This article reviews three approaches arising within the new water paradigm: integrated water resources management; ecosystem-based approaches; and adaptive management. The article concludes that the strengths of each approach address different moral and ecological challenges. Combining these strengths, while minimizing tensions, may contribute to more effective water management in the Anthropocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors reflect on knowledge-generating and communication processes involved in the recently developed Norwegian Nature Index, particularly the communication process among experts involved in providing the required biodiversity knowledge. Eliciting a comprehensive overview of biodiversity is a complex process involving choices of approaches and methods in order to reach a common understanding of uncertainties and values as a basis for quantification. Part of the complexity is the establishment of dialogue between experts from research institutions with different research traditions and approaches. The authors discuss how the index was developed through communication processes, challenging involved experts to provide not only biodiversity data for the current situation, but also forecasts of future trends, assessments of uncertainty, and evaluations of the urgency of biodiversity loss and possibility of implementing policy and management measures. The Nature Index framework has potential for informing the biodiversity policy debate by involving stakeholders beyond the science-policy community and enhancing deliberations about biodiversity policy in a wider context of sustainable development. As a policy tool, the Nature Index may develop through a process of practical application, which in turn may have an impact on the selection of narratives, definition of management targets, and technical concepts such as reference states. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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This study uses the socio-ecological resilience concept to compare two categories of fisheries co-management in Brazil: Extractive and Sustainable Development Reserves. Ecological resilience was estimated by the indicators: reserve areas, human density and the existence of buffer zones around the reserves. Indicators for social-resilience were grouped in two categories: flexibility (assessed by livelihood diversification and resources exploited) and capacity to organize (assessed by local/governrnenta1 demand for reserve creation, existence of fishing management rules or management plans, participation in the decision-making process and existence of self-monitoring). Amazonian reserves are larger, have buffer zones and people depend on a broader range of natural resources compared to those on the coast. However, the inhabitants of coastal reserves can rely on ecotourism and jobs outside the reserves, which may reduce local fishing pressure. Both regions have reserves created using top-down initiatives as well as those created from local demands. Yet, participation in decision making is not necessarily related to the origin of demand and the level of local involvement can be limited in either case. Unless co-management is followed by adaptive management, increased local participation of people in management and the diversification of economic sources. its benefit to resilience is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important tool for environment management, eco-efficiency has been widely applied, but eco-effectiveness has only made progress on eco-design and life cycle management in recent years. Few have attempted to integrate eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness into sustainable industrial systems. In a new framework integrating eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness, both concepts can find unique roles and complement each other in industrial ecosystems to dissolve conflicts between industry and the environment. This article provides a case study of China in which eco-efficiency indicators (energy, water and waste utilisation intensity) have demonstrated great progress in China, but eco-efficiency cannot stop the increasing release of pollutants and their accumulating impact on ecological life-support systems. China must integrate eco-effectiveness and eco-efficiency into concrete sustainable development strategies, questioning whether limited resources are being used correctly. Both eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness are identified as important indicators in the development of sustainable industrial systems. In the framework of sustainable industrial systems, eco-effectiveness must begin to play a more important role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay constitutes a piece of boundary work between science and policy. It illustrates the conflicts, but also the opportunities, that natural resource management encounters in the twenty-first century. I have tried to provide a widely accessible document that argues why a more holistic approach to conservation and natural resource management is imperative. Inspired by the concept of "Integrated Forest Management," I conceived the basics for an "Integrated Sustainable Development" strategy. I have approached the vast topic of "sustainable development in the Amazon" without complicated methodology because I want to present the problem in its inherent complexity and any other manner would largely exceed the length of an essay. A future scientific challenge is to deepen the analysis of why an integrated approach to conservation and ecosystem management is more likely to succeed than a segregative approach. Ultimately, the more political task, however, is to promote dialogue between the manifold and important stakeholder groups in the Amazon to a point where social, ecological, and economic realities are combined and provide a portfolio of sustainable development options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study of customary harvests of sooty shearwater Puffinus griseus chicks by Rakiura Maori compares the utility of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and ecological science for understanding patterns in prey availability. We recorded TEK of 28 muttonbirders about emergence patterns and variation in chick size at different aspects of 14 breeding islands and in their coastal fringe compared to inland areas. Spatial and temporal variation of chick availability were measured using the methods of ecological science in the 2001 harvest season across Putauhinu island, south west of Rakiura, New Zealand. as predicted by TEK, titi emerged earlier from west than east coast locations on Putauhinu. Scientific measures were also consistent with an earlier emergence in coastal compared to inland areas as asserted by TEK, but conclusive inference is potentially confounded by movement of chicks between burrows just before fledging. A TEK construct predicting heavier chicks on the west coast was not supported by scientific measurements. We also measured the characteristics of areas preferred for harvesting so that we could gauge representativeness of the areas "sampled" by the muttonbirders to accumulate their TEK. Within forested habitat, areas harvested by muttonbirders had 62-65% higher chick density than unharvested areas. The muttonbirders concentrated harvesting where there was less ground cover and taller canopy cover and only hunted on nights and times of the season when harvesting was most profitable. Therefore, TEK may be less able to detect wider-scale variation and harvest impacts on prey in particular. Short runs of scientific information from spatially and temporally stratified sampling will complement and assist inference from longer term TEK. as shown in this case study, TEK and science often agree on pattern, but are likely to disagree on why a pattern exists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the mid-term assessment used to implement the European Commission (EC) Biodiversity Action Plan. The Commission emphasizes the significance of biodiversity protection for sustainable development, as well as the establishment of a detailed action plan to achieve the goal. Meanwhile, the 2008 European Council also reiterates its commitment to strengthen the efforts to stop biodiversity loss by 2010 and beyond. Despite the development of the plan, it is believed that the goal of stopping biodiversity loss in the European Union (EU) will unlikely be achieved within the expected timeframe.

New markets for ecosystem services have emerged in response to the failure of traditional biodiversity conservation mechanisms to effectively protect and conserve the processes that support ecosystem function and process (Landell-Mills and Porras, 2002; Pagiola et al., 2002). Sustainable tourism-one market tool that potentially supports biodiversity services-aims to balance the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural features of tourism development by maintaining environ- mental resources, the socio-cultural livelihoods of host communities, and providing stakeholder benefits (WTO, 2004). Proponents claim that sustainable tourism contributes toward maintaining biodiversity, while critics fear that marketing various components of biodiversity as distinct services (e.g., only protecting unique places for sustainable tourism, and only protecting extremely biodiverse places for hioprospecting), fails to protect the integrity of the functioning, and dynamic ecosystem (Landell-Mills and Porras, 2002). This chapter serves as one section of a four-part analysis of existing and emerging markets for biodiversity services using Panama as a case study. Based on projections of future sustainable tourism markets, this analysis presents policy options that could positively augment future sustainable tourism ventures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a style of learning sustainable development with a farm enterprise and its community. Development of a model for agroecosystem management; Description of a farm enterprise including its relationships with the surrounding community; Formulation of community learning to motivate leadership and collaboration among agroecosystem shareholders; Design of a model development process.

The emergence of hundreds of rural, place-based, grass-roots ecosystem management (GREM) efforts across the United States constitutes a new environmental movement that challenges the fundamental premises of existing natural resources and public lands institutions. This article establishes GREM as qualitatively distinct from prior American environmental movements and as a fundamentally different approach to the environmental problematique, which relies on decentralization, collaboration, citizen participation, and a holistic worldview that seeks to simultaneously promote environment, economy, and community. GREM is compared with the three major American environmental movements preservation, conservation, and contemporary along several dimensions: ideology, movement character, preferred institutions, and approach of each to science, technology, and the question of limits to growth. While not all aspects of GREM are new, it is a grand synthesis that borrows readily from past movements, adds new ideas and approaches to environmental management, and transforms the whole into a distinctive movement worthy of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecologically fragile landscapes of the Himalaya, particularly rainfed areas, have been experiencing increased degradation of land and water, and loss of biodiversity. This study emphasizes the utility of micro-level planning on area-specific land use for environmental management in the most populated mountain belt (between 1000--2400 m asl) commonly referred as the 'problem zone' in the Central Himalayan region. Risk assessment of existing land-use practices, environmental problems, and evaluation of physical and cultural infrastructures were the foundation of the envisaged developmental model and action plan. Based on the primary information, and constant interaction between the scientists and farmers, an eco-friendly alternative model for sustainable and optimal utilization of land has been developed and demonstrated. The people's participation was considered an essential tool for successful implementation of the action plan. Consequently, subsequent actions and field work were carried out by villagers themselves with the encouragement and guidance of experts. People's perception about the entire programme has been satisfactory as shown by the adoptionof technology packages which have been demonstrated on their land. The basic ethos has been the supplementation of the traditional knowledge -base, not its replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]