Institutions, Ecosystems and Sustainability

Institutions, Ecosystems and Sustainability
Author: Robert Costanza
Publisher: CRC-Press
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2000-07-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9781566703895

In the latter part of the 20th century, humans are doing a particularly poor job of managing natural resources in a sustainable way over the long term. Institutions, Ecosystems and sustainability focuses on long term, sustainable natural resource management practices at the local, national, and international levels. The authors suggest that a major cause of the "sustainability problem" lie in "scale" problems. Large scale ecosystems are not simply larger versions of smaller systems, and micro-scale ecosystems are not merely microcosims of large scale systems. The driving forces and feedback mechanisms operate at different levels and exhibit distinct patterns of their own. The challenge is to match ecosystems and governance systems in ways that maximize the compatibility of these systems. This book builds upon this fundamental principle. Particularly valuable is the use of simulation exercises to explore the consequences of social institutions and a discussion of the progress being made in developing a broad global data base to test hypotheses about the relationship between ecosystems and social institutions, and to investigate ways to repair the damage already caused by scale mismatches.

Institutions, Ecosystems, and Sustainability

Institutions, Ecosystems, and Sustainability
Author: Robert Costanza
Publisher:
Total Pages: 286
Release: 2000
Genre: LAW
ISBN: 9780367801434

The essays in this volume suggest that a major cause of the "sustainability problem"--Regulatory policies for large areas that often threaten the sustainability of both natural resources and previously effective governance problems - lie in "scale" problems.

Institutions, Sustainability, and Natural Resources

Institutions, Sustainability, and Natural Resources
Author: Shashi Kant
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 368
Release: 2006-01-17
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1402035195

This work proposes that new economic theory, rather than a new public policy based on old theory, is needed to guide humanity toward sustainability. The book includes the ideas from old as well as new institutional economics, discussed in detail by leading experts in the field. This book follows a companion work, 'Economics, Sustainability, and Natural Resources: Economics of Sustainable Forest Management', volume 1 of the series.

Ecology, Uncertainty and Policy

Ecology, Uncertainty and Policy
Author: John Handmer
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 296
Release: 2017-09-29
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1317905059

A broad and comprehensive exploration of the role of the ecological sciences in sustainability for undergraduates.The urgent quest for more sustainable patterns of development has placed new and difficult demands on both scientists and policy makers as they seek to establish more informed and effective policy processes and management regimes in the the face of pervasive uncertainty. Written by an international group of authors from a range of disciplines - ecology, geography, law, policy analysis and others - the chapters explore issues of scientific legitimacy, public participation, non-governmental organisations, inter-sectoral communication and pragmatic public policy across a wide range of ecosystem management contexts.

Institutions and Sustainability

Institutions and Sustainability
Author: Volker Beckmann
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 391
Release: 2009-02-07
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1402096909

From the first vague idea to use Konrad Hagedorn’s 60th birthday as an inspi- tion for taking stock of his vibrant academic contributions, this joint book project has been a great pleasure for us in many ways. Pursuing Hagedorn’s intellectual development, we have tried to reflect on the core questions of humanity according to Ernst Bloch “Who are we?”, “Where do we come from?” and “Where are we heading?” In this way, and without knowing it, Konrad Hagedorn initiated a c- lective action process he would have very much enjoyed ... if he had been allowed to take part in it. But it was our aim and constant motivation to surprise him with this collection of essays in his honour. Konrad Hagedorn was reared as the youngest child of a peasant family on a small farm in the remote moorland of East Frisia, Germany. During his childhood in the poverty-ridden years after the Second World War, he faced a life where humans were heavily dependent on using nature around them for their livelihoods; meanwhile, he learned about the fragility of the environment. As a boy, he - tended a one-room schoolhouse, where his great intellectual talents were first r- ognised and used for co-teaching his schoolmates. These early teaching expe- ences might have laid the foundations for his later becoming a dedicated lecturer and mentor.

University engagement and environmental sustainability

University engagement and environmental sustainability
Author: Patricia Inman
Publisher: Manchester University Press
Total Pages: 265
Release: 2016-05-16
Genre: Education
ISBN: 184779954X

Universities have a key role to play in contributing to environmental development and combating climate change. The chapters within this volume detail the challenges faced by higher education institutions in considering environmental sustainability, and provide both a broad view of university engagement and a detailed examination of various projects. As part of this series in association with the Place and Social Capital and Learning (PASCAL) International Observatory, the three key PASCAL themes of place management, lifelong learning and the development of social capital are considered throughout the book. While universities have historically generated knowledge outside of specific local contexts, this book argues that it is particularly important for them to engage with the local community and to consider diverse perspectives and assets when looking at issues within an ecological context. The chapters in this volume provide new perspectives and frames of reference for transforming universities by engaging in the development of resilient communities.

Linking Social and Ecological Systems

Linking Social and Ecological Systems
Author: Fikret Berkes
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 480
Release: 2000-04-13
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780521785624

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.

Adapting Institutions

Adapting Institutions
Author: Emily Boyd
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages:
Release: 2011-10-27
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1139502646

Global environmental change is occurring at a rate faster than humans have ever experienced. Climate change and the loss of ecosystem services are the two main global environmental crises facing us today. As a result, there is a need for better understanding of the specific and general resilience of networked ecosystems, cities, organisations and institutions to cope with change. In this book, an international team of experts provide cutting-edge insights into building the resilience and adaptive governance of complex social-ecological systems. Through a set of case studies, it focuses on the social science dimension of ecosystem management in the context of global change, in a move to bridge existing gaps between resilience, sustainability and social science. Using empirical examples ranging from local to global levels, views from a variety of disciplines are integrated to provide an essential resource for scholars, policy-makers and students, seeking innovative approaches to governance.

Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems

Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems
Author: Peter Newman
Publisher: Island Press
Total Pages: 297
Release: 2012-09-26
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 1597267473

Modern city dwellers are largely detached from the environmental effects of their daily lives. The sources of the water they drink, the food they eat, and the energy they consume are all but invisible, often coming from other continents, and their waste ends up in places beyond their city boundaries. Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems shows how cities and their residents can begin to reintegrate into their bioregional environment, and how cities themselves can be planned with nature’s organizing principles in mind. Taking cues from living systems for sustainability strategies, Newman and Jennings reassess urban design by exploring flows of energy, materials, and information, along with the interactions between human and non-human parts of the system. Drawing on examples from all corners of the world, the authors explore natural patterns and processes that cities can emulate in order to move toward sustainability. Some cities have adopted simple strategies such as harvesting rainwater, greening roofs, and producing renewable energy. Others have created biodiversity parks for endangered species, community gardens that support a connection to their foodshed, and pedestrian-friendly spaces that encourage walking and cycling. A powerful model for urban redevelopment, Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems describes aspects of urban ecosystems from the visioning process to achieving economic security to fostering a sense of place.