This thesis examined the complex socio-ecological dynamics in the Brazilian Amazon, focusing on the mechanisms that allow Amazonians to access natural resources along the gradient of urbanization. While Amazonian conservation and development policies have traditionally targeted rural areas, there is a growing need to consider the interconnectedness between urban, peri-urban (i.e. the area surrounding the urban center) and rural communities as the region urbanizes. The overall research question that guided this thesis research was "How does urbanization affect access to natural resources and how does access affect natural resource use?". We aimed to address key aspects of these relationships and the implications for sustainable development and conservation efforts. The first chapter explored the mechanisms by which rural, peri-urban, and urban populations in the Amazon access natural resources, focusing on the varied resources they use as food. Using the Theory of Access' framework and 33 semi-structured interviews with participants selected by snowball sampling in Manaus and Carauari (Amazonas, Brazil), we identified physical, knowledge, structural, social, and rights-based mechanisms as key to understanding resource access. The findings indicate that materiality (i.e. the presence and quality of a given resource), and knowledge were salient for rural and peri-urban people, who live in close proximity to natural resources, to establish access. Technology, such as mobile phones and internet access, further facilitated exchanges across the urbanization gradient. We also found out that the combination of mobility and social relations resulted in greater access to natural resources for those not living in physical proximity to such resources, for those not recognized as legitimate users, or for those that do not know how to extract natural resources. Across the gradient, people made use of social mechanisms and power to reinforce reciprocity among peers and access food. This study contributed to the advancement of the Access Theory by highlighting that people holding power, because of customary, social, institutional, political, and commercial power, accessed or controlled other people's access to natural resources, despite of legal constraints. By extending the notion of access to natural resources as bundles of diverse structural, knowledge, social, power, and rights-based mechanisms, novel policies can be designed to foster sustainable resource use while addressing power disparities for the development of the Brazilian Amazon. The second chapter examined the prevalence and quantity of wildmeat consumption, barter trade, and monetary trade across rural, peri-urban, and urban areas in the Brazilian Amazon. Through an indirect questioning technique, we surveyed 782 randomly selected households in Manaus and Carauari. We revealed substantial wildlife use throughout the urbanization gradient. In urban households, the rates of wildlife consumption, barter trade, and sale are significant (Manaus: 22%, 17%, 21%; Carauari: 57%, 30%, 7%, respectively), with higher market access in Manaus, the big city. Additionally, we found that wildlife trade occurred in both urban areas assessed, with an estimate of 21% (7-34%: Carauari) and 16% (6-26%: Manaus) of urban households trading wildmeat. Participation of peri-urban households in wildlife trade was high, especially close to Manaus. Results point to a need for inclusive wildlife policies, which regulate subsistence hunting, integrate fish and wildlife management within community-based conservation, implement measures to curtail illegal trade, and promote urban-rural development strategies. Together, these chapters highlight the importance of a collaborative and inclusive approach to conservation in the Amazon, recognizing the interconnectedness of rural and urban communities. To foster sustainable development, conservation strategies must prioritize equitable access to natural resources and promote the active participation of rural, peri-urban and urban inhabitants in shaping conservation outcomes. / Master of Science / In this study, we examined how people in the Brazilian Amazon access natural resources. Imagine living in a place with rich rainforests, rivers, and unique animals. Immersed in this forest matrix are one big city and several small towns where people have markets to obtain their food, commute to work and school in crowded roads, use mobile technologies such as internet and mobile banking. In this thesis, we studied how Amazonian people in different places get the food they eat, like animals, fish, açaí berries, and Brazil nuts. In order to do so, we asked people living in the rural and highly forested areas, in the areas within and around a small town, Carauari, and one big city, Manaus, how they were able to obtain these foods. We divided this study in two chapters, which are presented below: Chapter 1: How people obtain natural resources We talked to people in different parts of the Amazon, from rural villages to a big city, to understand how they get access to natural resources as food. We found that people who live close to the resources, such as those in the rural areas, can easily collect food. Others use their knowledge and social connections, sharing food with friends, family, and people they trust. Technology, such as mobile phones and the internet, also helps them exchange resources. People frequently move among the countryside and the city to access natural resources. Influential individuals, such as politicians, environmental agents, and merchants, can get natural resources whenever they want or easily control what others can access. Our findings highlight the importance of social relations, power, and technology in accessing natural resources and suggest new policies to promote fair and sustainable use in the Amazon. Chapter 2: Wildlife in the big city, in the small town, and in the rural areas We also looked at the amount of wild meat from birds, mammals, and river turtles and tortoises that people consumed, sold, or exchanged with others. Around a quarter of families in the big city, Manaus, and more than half of the families in the small town of Carauari consumed wild meat. We also found that they may share or sell them, especially in the surrounding areas of the big city, where the amount of people demanding wild meat can be high. This can be a problem for wildlife and for people if there is not enough meat for everyone to eat, share or trade. So, to create a sustainable pathway for wildlife and people, we suggested conservation policies that: promote the inclusion of city people in sustainable plans for wildlife, make the use of people's contribution in strategies to protect wildlife, and that ensure that everyone has what to eat as an ally of wildlife conservation. Conclusion: Working together for the Amazon Conserving the Amazon rainforest is a team effort. Rural and city communities are connected, and we must share resources fairly. By doing this, we can help the Amazon thrive while taking care of its people.

Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental human right, yet many urban and peri-urban areas struggle to provide this service. While rural water access has improved, urban areas face stagnation or declining access to safe water services due to rapid urbanization, environmental changes, and social disparities. With urban populations in the global South expected to double and concerns about water quality from centralized systems in high-income countries, adaptable and resilient water service solutions are urgently needed. Decentralized systems are gaining attention for their adaptability, cost-effectiveness, and resilience, offering flexible alternatives to large treatment plants and aiming to provide safe, clean water at the household or community level. These systems improve local responsiveness, reduce inequalities, and enhance resilience by utilizing alternative water sources like rainwater harvesting. Innovative service delivery models are essential to bridge gaps, increase local responsiveness, and benefit vulnerable groups. Business model innovation is crucial for adopting and sustaining decentralized water technologies, especially in urban and developing contexts. Private companies are increasingly stepping in to provide decentralized drinking water services, often in partnership with government-led projects or community-managed initiatives, filling gaps where public institutions fall short. This thesis investigates private entities as viable alternatives for decentralized drinking water service provision, considering the complex landscape of urban water provision and the challenges centralized systems face. Using a mixed-methods approach, including a systematic literature review and interviews with eight organizations, the study explores how private companies operate and engage with communities to improve water services. Findings show that private companies use innovative business models, such as Social Enterprise and Product-Service System Models, to balance profitability with social and environmental responsibilities, though this raises concerns about the commodification of water. The thesis emphasizes the importance of subsidies, innovative financing, and government support to ensure affordable and accessible water services, especially in low-income and water-stressed regions. It stresses the need for supportive policy frameworks to promote decentralized services in different income-level countries. The adaptability of private companies to diverse customer bases and their ability to secure funding from various sources are crucial for the scalability and sustainability of their services. The thesis concludes that private companies play a vital role in bridging the service provision gap, but their success depends on innovation, stakeholder engagement, and supportive policies. It highlights the importance of balancing centralized and decentralized systems to ensure sustainable and resilient water services and uphold the human right to clean drinking water. The thesis contributes to the discourse on sustainable urban water management, underlining the potential of private companies to improve the accessibility and sustainability of drinking water services while emphasizing the need for ethical considerations in commodifying essential resources.

Sustainable sanitation and wastewater management are of increasing importance around the world while certain resources are becoming scarcer and therefore more valuable. The lack of proper wastewater management causes problems and the degradation of some resources. Increasing urbanization in peri-urban areas puts extra stress on the need for finding and implementing sustainable solutions to prevent ground- and surface water contamination. The study aimed to design a more sustainable wastewater management at the farm Ceasip located in the peri-urban area of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Due to the lack of proper wastewater management on the farm, Ceasip was a likely contributor to the contamination of the groundwater. Of the farm’s different wastewater sources, this study focused on the domestic wastewater and its possible reuse in agriculture. The prioritized sustainability criteria were to prevent groundwater contamination, reduce water usage and recycle nutrients. First various wastewater management options were identified. Next these were evaluated according to the different sustainability criteria previously mentioned. In order to determine a management option, data and information were collected and processed regarding water flows, water quality, physical conditions as well as sustainability criteria within environment, technology, socio-culture, health and economy. Results of the present conditions for Ceasip showed various characteristics, like small water flows, high nitrogen and fecal coliform concentration and clayey soils, from which suitability of different treatments was determined. Urine separation was deemed appropriate for Ceasip to increase the recycling of nutrients as well as reduce the nitrogen levels in wastewater. Treatment ponds and leach fields were designed as two wastewater treatment alternatives. For Ceasip to implement and manage water and wastewater sustainably through one of the mentioned alternatives could have a positive impact for the farm and environment, as well as serve as an example to employees, visitors and other establishments. / El saneamiento y gestión sostenible de las aguas residuales es de creciente importancia en los tiempos modernos. Los recursos naturales son cada vez más escasos y valiosos. Mas aún, la falta del manejo adecuado de aguas residuales es causa importante de la degradación de los recursos restantes. La creciente urbanización en las zonas periurbanas acentúa la necesidad de encontrar e implementar soluciones sostenibles en el manejo de aguas residuales. En estas zonas dicho manejo (colección y tratamiento de aguas residuales) es deficiente. Como consecuencia se percibe una contaminación continua de las aguas subterráneas en estas condiciones. El objetivo del estudio realizado fue diseñar un sistema de gestión de aguas residuales más sostenible para la granja Ceasip ubicada en la zona periurbana de Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. El estudio se enfoca principalmente en el manejo de las aguas residuales domésticas y su posible reutilización en la agricultura. Sin embargo, cabe mencionar que las aguas residuales en la granja Ceasip provienen también de otras actividades. Para el concepto de sostenibilidad de este proyecto, son prioritarios los criterios de prevención de la contaminación del agua subterránea, la reducción del consumo de agua y el reciclaje de nutrientes. La metodología de estudio consistió en varias etapas. Después de una extensa revisión de la literatura existente diferentes opciones de gestión fueron evaluadas de acuerdo con los criterios de sostenibilidad antes mencionados. Para hacer una elección de un tratamiento adecuado, se realizaron compilaciones y procesamiento de datos con respecto a los flujos y la calidad de aguas, las condiciones geomorfológicas, climáticas así como la evaluación de algunos parámetros ambientales, sociales, técnicos, económicos, y de salubridad. En las condiciones actuales, los resultados de las evaluaciones de la granja, resaltaron aspectos críticos sobre los que se propusieron algunos tratamientos alternativos; por ejemplo el aumento en el reciclaje de nutrientes así como la reducción de los niveles de nitrógeno en las aguas residuales. La separación de la orina se consideró de gran importancia para la gestión apropiada de las aguas residuales de Ceasip. Al final se sugirieron dos posibles alternativas para el diseño del tratamiento de aguas, la utilización de lagunas o de lechos filtrantes con arena, cuya contribuiría positivamente tanto como para el entorno local y el personal de la granja así como para la comunidad en general, sirviendo como ejemplo para otros establecimientos. / Hållbar sanitet och avloppsvattenhantering är av ökande vikt runt om i världen. Resurser blir allt knappare och mer värdefulla medan bristen på hållbar hantering även skapar problem och degradering av återstående resurser. På grund av den ökande urbaniseringen är grundvattnet i städernas periferier speciellt utsatt eftersom avloppsvattenhantering saknas där. Syftet med denna studie är att designa en mer hållbar avloppsvattenhantering för gården Ceasip i peri-urbana Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. I nuläget saknas en lämplig lösning på gården. Av de olika typerna av avloppsvatten på gården, fokuserar denna studie främst på avloppsvattnet från hushåll och möjligheterna att återanvända det inom jordbruket. För hållbarhetskonceptet i uppsatsen, prioriteras följande kriterier: skydd av grundvattnet, minskning av grundvattenkonsumtion och näringsåtervinning. En litteraturstudie gjordes över olika avloppsvattenhanteringsalternativ som sedan utvärderades enligt hållbarhetskriterierna. För att bestämma det mest lämpliga hanteringsalternativet, samlades data och information om vattenflöden, vattenkvalitéer, klimat, geomorfologi och även för miljö, teknik, hälsa, ekonomi och kultur. Resultaten från sammanställningen visade på olika egenskaper från vilka lämplig hantering bestämdes. För att öka återvinningen av näringsämnen och minska kvävekoncentrationerna i avloppsvattnet, visade det sig vara lämpligt att använda urinsortering. Två behandlingsalternativ designades, och det föreslogs antingen behandlingsdammar eller förstärkta infiltrationsanläggningar. Då någon av dessa alternativ tillämpas på Ceasip skulle man även kunna påverka lokalt och regionalt genom att sätta ett bra exempel.

At Constitutional level, legislation in South Africa entrenches the provision of food and water for all its citizens. In instances where citizens are unable to provide in these basic requirements for themselves, social assistance should be provided to ensure a healthy life for all. In this regard, legislation and Town Planning ordinances and regulations are in place to ensure that built-up environments in which we live and work are healthy and safe for all. However, this study revealed that food provisioning by community gardeners is peripheral in legislation, ordinances and regulations and the practice of urban agriculture is, in many instances, in conflict with the principle of safe and healthy food for all. Community gardeners/urban agriculturists are food farmers within the city who produce food for themselves and others without the checks and balances that are otherwise applicable to food brought into the city from outside. While food production on any piece of available land is vital for these community gardeners for their sustenance and survival, it could become a potential health hazard if no checks or testing measures are in place to ensure that the food being produced is safe for human consumption. The study sought the views and perceptions of community gardeners, residents, Environmental Health Practitioners and Town Planners in the eThekwini Metro region with regards to community gardening/urban agriculture and its impact on food provisioning to citizens. For data collection, a one-on-one interviewing survey method was used with all four groups and results were calculated and converted to average percentages and analysed. The results revealed that there was conflict between legislation, ordinances and regulations regarding the production of food in the built-up environment of the EThekwini Municipality. It was also revealed that there was no cohesive policy to control the production of food produced and sold by community gardeners in the study area. The need for control measures and regulations regarding food production and sale by community gardeners was highlighted. Moreover, where ineffective or none such measures or controls exist, a transparent and consultative process involving all stakeholders must take place in order to establish up viable and sustainable control measures. The people who will be most affected by these rules, namely the community gardeners, should be pivotal role players in the establishment of a sustainable urban agriculture policy. Recommendations to address the problems illuminated by the study are presented. / Environmental Sciences / Ph. D. (Environmental Management)

La croissance de l’urbanisation, par son importance et sa rapidité, pose des problèmes considérables dans beaucoup d’endroits du monde, en Asie du sud-est et notamment au Vietnam où le potentiel d’accroissement urbain est extrêmement fort. Au Vietnam, dans les grandes agglomérations de ce pays, le processus d’urbanisation est encadré dans des limites territoriales définies par l’Etat et collectivités locales. Mais il se fait en outre de façon spontanée en réponse aux besoins de nombreuses populations qui viennent de la campagne et travaillent dans les zones industrielles. Le problème de définition du périurbain à HCM Ville est abordé dans notre recherche de façon à tenir compte du contexte local mais surtout des enjeux théoriques que pose le périurbain en tant que phénomène sociogéographique. L’interrogation sur les liens d’interdépendance entre périurbanisation et modernité traverse nos réflexions. La recherche vise à comprendre comment émergent dans les zones périurbaines de nouvelles formes d’urbanité que l’homme tisse avec son milieu de vie et qui sont marquées par la modernité. Plus particulièrement, il s’agira d’examiner comment certains types d’habitats lient diverses catégories de population et diverses formes d’urbanité en milieu périurbain, afin de dégager la dimension sociale et culturelle de l’adaptation à la nouvelle situation et du développement durable. La thèse se concentrera sur trois types de population dans des types d’habitats différents, qui sont parmi les plus affectés par l’expérience de la confrontation à la modernité : les jeunes, les femmes et les personnes âgées. Notre approche géographique consiste à caractériser la zone périurbaine par les outils de télédétection, statistiques et cartographiques, et aussi au moyen de méthodes d’observation participante et d’entretiens approfondis, grâce auxquelles on peut voir comment les gens construisent leurs lieux et vie et leur donnent du sens. Ils font preuve d’adaptations personnelles importantes qui se traduisent par de nouvelles façons de vivre et de participer à l’émergence de nouveaux lieux d’urbanité. / Peri-urban areas, with their landscapes of closely mixed rural and urban activities represent a form of urbanization that is emerging a question on the traditional urban - rural duality. The suburban Hô Chi Minh-City ( HCM-City ) is dealt in our thesis in the local context taking into account the theoretical issues raised by this socio-geographical phenomenon. Three types of inhabitant were identified in our study and are characterized by their different way of living the suburban space in HCM-City. They participate in the construction of very revealing field interactions between the countryside and the city, between tradition and modernity. Representations and actions revealingthe modernity which is distancing itself from traditions, can affect all residents. However, they are more easily identifiable in certain population groups, more specifically those three which are the most affected by the experience of confrontation with modernity: women, youth and the elderly. Their social roles are more likely to be modified by the peri-urban context, which results in some aspects of lifestyle where high pressure to change the behavior of their daily life including their mobility is observed. The analysis of new livestyles both in their positive and negative aspects allows us to understand the changes that affect social relations, religious practices, the role of women and family conflict, mobility and behavior of youngand older people as well in the studied peri-urban areas. The analysis also shows that the geographic distribution of the three types of habitathas conditioned the emergence of a new tissue of socio- spatial relations in peri-urban areas of HCM-City.

Cette thèse propose d’analyser dans la métropole de Lima les réponses des producteurs agropastoraux de la ville face aux renouvellements des fonctions de l’agriculture urbaine. Dans un contexte de forte pression métropolitaine, la capitale péruvienne –incarnée par les autorités, les consommateurs, les citadins- fait preuve d’une attitude ambivalente en ce qui concerne l’activité agricole en ville : entre désintérêt et formulation de nouvelles attentes. Dans une démarche au carrefour de la géographie sociale, de l’étude des relations villes-campagnes et de la place de la nature en ville, la recherche s’attache à identifier les capacités des producteurs –en termes de moyens disponibles et de pratiques– à répondre à des demandes toujours plus complexes, allant de l’engouement pour une consommation locale, en passant par les loisirs, aux exigences de la durabilité urbaine, et émanant d’acteurs extérieurs à l’activité, aussi bien des habitants que des instances internationales.Les attentes autour d’une agriculture de proximité dépassent la seule fonction alimentaire pour intégrer des problématiques d’aménagement du territoire urbain et de création d’espaces de sociabilité par et pour les citadins. Ces attentes impliquent une transformation des espaces agropastoraux des périphéries, et la création de nouveaux territoires agricoles au sein du tissu urbain.Nous analysons d’une part les pratiques des producteurs liméniens et leurs rapports distendus à la ville ; et d’autre part la manière dont ces mêmes acteurs s’approprient les attentes citadines et leurs conséquences sur la construction territoriale métropolitaine. La tension entre les producteurs et la ville, mais également entre les producteurs et les attentes des acteurs urbains permet de mettre en lumière la mise en place de rapports de pouvoir inégaux. / This thesis draws on fieldwork conducted in Greater Lima, Peru, to examine how the city’s farmers have responded to recent changes in the role ascribed to urban agriculture. Amidst a context of severe urban pressure, the metropolis has shown an ambivalent attitude towards agricultural activities, with a norm of indifference stirred to a certain degree of interest as new expectations arise. This investigation is based on an approach that stands at the crossroads of social geography, research into relationships between urban and rural frames of reference, and examination of the natural world’s place within the city environment, in order to characterize the strategies available to farmers – in line with their material resources and traditional or innovative practices – to meet the increasingly complex demands of the city, imposed by other stakeholders: both residents and international bodies now see urban agriculture as a means of responding to the growing significance of urban sustainability. Expectations for local agriculture transcend the function of food production, expanding to include urban planning issues and the creation of spaces for social interaction by and for the city’s inhabitants. These multifaceted objectives demand the transformation of farmland areas located around the outskirts, and the creation of new agricultural spaces within the fabric of the city. This study first addresses the current practices of Lima’s farmers and their weak linkages with the city, before going on to analyze how they have adapted to the expectations placed on them, and resultant effects on both the manner in which urban land is conceptualized and the ways in which unequal power balances can emerge. Municipal policies aspire to integrate the city’s agriculture with urban planning and residents’ quality of life, and must therefore be designed and assessed taking into account local stakeholders’ personal experiences and specific characteristics. / A partir del caso de la ciudad de Lima, esta tesis se interesa en las repuestas de los productores agropecuarios de la ciudad frente a la reestructuración de funciones de la agricultura urbana: en un contexto de fuertes presiones de la ciudad, la capital peruana muestra una actitud ambivalente en lo que se refiere a la actividad agropecuaria, entre la indiferencia y la formulación de nuevas necesidades. Siguiendo una línea reflexiva que combina la geografía social, el estudio de las relaciones ciudad-campo y el rol de la naturaleza en la ciudad; la investigación se centra en identificar las capacidades de los productores – en términos de recursos disponibles y de prácticas – para cumplir demandas urbanas cada vez más complejas, que provienen de actores externos a la actividad (tanto de los habitantes como de organizaciones internacionales que ven en la agricultura urbana una repuesta a la exigencia de la sostenibilidad urbana). Las expectativas alrededor de una agricultura de proximidad van más allá de su función de producir alimentos al integrar las problemáticas relacionadas al ordenamiento del territorio urbano y a la creación de espacios de sociabilidad por y para los habitantes de la ciudad. Estas expectativas implican una transformación de los espacios agropecuarios ubicados en las periferias, y la creación de nuevos territorios agrícolas dentro de la mancha urbana. De un lado, analizamos las prácticas de los productores limeños y sus vínculos débiles con la ciudad; y de otro lado, estudiamos las apropiaciones de las demandas de los productores et las consecuencias en la construcción territorial metropolitana así como en la creación de relaciones de poderes desiguales. Las políticas públicas de la ciudad aspiran a una integración de la agricultura urbana con el ordenamiento territorial urbano y la calidad de vida de los habitantes, por lo que no pueden ser pensadas sin tomar en cuenta las historias y las particularidades de los actores locales.

Mit einer Bevölkerung von 6,8 Millionen Menschen gehört der Großraum Hyderabad zu den am schnellsten wachsenden städtischen Agglomerationen Südindiens. Das zentrale Thema dieser Dissertation ist die Erforschung der Zusammenhänge zwischen der fortschreitenden Urbanisierung und dem strukturellen Wandel in der peri-urbanen Landwirtschaft im Großraum dieser Megacity Darüber hinaus ist die Erforschung der Sichtweisen und Einstellung der Landwirte zum Thema Nachhaltigkeit für die Arbeit von herausragendem Interesse: z.B., welche Bedeutung hat die Auswahl des Anbausystems auf die Wahl der Anpassungsstrategien? In einer umfassenden Literaturübersicht zum Thema Urbanisierung und peri-urbane Landwirtschaft werden verschiedene Theorien dahingehend analysiert, welche Aussagen sich zu den Auswirkungen der Urbanisierung auf die peri-urbane Landwirtschaft treffen lassen. Wichtige Einflussfaktoren des sich vollziehenden strukturellen Wandels werden herausgearbeitet und die gängigsten Anpassungsmaßnahmen der peri-urbanen Farmer (z.B. zusätzlicher Einsatz von Familienarbeitskräften oder Wechsel in die Nebenerwerbslandwirtschaft), sowie der damit verbundenen Umweltauswirkungen vorgestellt und erklärt. Zudem wird Fragen nachgegangen, wie sich mehr oder weniger nachhaltige Entscheidungen erklären lassen, welche Rolle bei der Umstellung auf nachhaltige Praktiken der Landwirtschaft die Nutzung sozialer Netzwerke wie Familie und Nachbarschaft oder die Mitgliedschaft in bäuerlichen Organisationen spielen. Die Arbeit kommt zu dem Ergebnis, dass infolge der ökologischen Umstellung sich intensivere Kooperationen (collective action) ergaben, die wiederum in Konsequenz sowohl ökologische als auch soziale Nachhaltigkeit förderten. Dies bestätigt die theoretische Annahme, dass wirksame gesellschaftliche Beteiligungen Schlüsselfunktionen für soziale Innovationen darstellen, die zukünftige Politikgestaltung in den Randgebieten von Hyderabad beeinflussen könnten. / This thesis explores the ramifications of rapid urbanization on food production in the urban periphery of Greater Hyderabad Area, Southern city of India. In addition this dissertations unpack the wider questions related understanding of sustainability and sustainable farming by the agricultural actors in the urban periphery. The literature review draws attention to the various theories, concepts and pathways of change across the globe. The results particularly focusing on the Indian context indicate that in peri-urban farming along with the increasing cost of production there is associated environmental impacts.To lower these costs, farmers also expanded family labour and resorted to part time farming. In general current developments in the land use of agriculturists indicate an unsustainable use of natural resources where small farms are disappearing and medium size farms are increasing. Also, there is much emphasis on understanding the farmers’ prioritization about the three dimensions of sustainability. Findings reveal that majority of them prioritized the economic criteria rather than environmental and social, where the social sustainability perhaps faded out in the urban peripheries. These results explains the completely different understanding (connotation as well as association) of the term sustainability in this dynamic setting. In the end this dissertation has found that ecological challenge procured community (collective action) and thus prompted environmental sustainability as well as social sustainability confirming the theoretical claim that collective action and effective community participation are core elements of social innovation which might help to shape future politics in Hyderabad’s urban fringes.

En plein essor depuis quelques années, les références au « logement durable » et la constitution d’une offre s’inscrivant dans ses objectifs, invitent à analyser les interactions entre le domaine du logement et celui de l’environnement, dans leurs rapports au phénomène urbain et ses évolutions. Cette thèse de sociologie, ouverte à la pluridisciplinarité en sciences sociales (urbanisme et aménagement, ethnologie), retient empiriquement comme cas d’étude la construction de maisons individuelles dans le Grand Est, en Alsace, qui intègrent une réflexion sur la performance énergétique et l’usage de matériaux dits écologiques, en se centrant en particulier sur les espaces périurbains. L’ambition conjointe de cette recherche est double. D’une part, on se propose d’analyser les modalités de production d’une offre de « maison durable » techno-centrée et adaptée à la focale énergétique des politiques environnementales, à partir d’une enquête auprès de maîtres d’œuvre et constructeurs régionaux, en regard des évolutions des cadres juridiques et des marchés immobiliers nationaux. D’autre part, il s’agit de mettre en lumière, par une ethnographie de terrain et la caractérisation des trajectoires des ménages étudiés, le vécu des habitants, leurs appropriations de la « maison durable » et leurs modes de vie. De façon transversale, la thèse nourrit ainsi une réflexion sur l’injonction à la sobriété énergétique et à la responsabilisation individuelle en questionnant le modèle de « maison durable » et ses effets sur les inégalités socio-spatiales / In the early twenty-first century, “sustainable housing” has become a popular catchword, and its goals are increasingly being embraced in the housing sector. This new context calls for analysing the interactions between housing and environment, especially insofar as they relate to the urban phenomenon and its evolutions. This PhD in sociology adopts an interdisciplinary social science perspective (branching out into urbanism, planning and ethnology) in its empirical examination of the construction of individual houses in the Alsace region of France, that take into consideration energy performance and the use so-called “ecological” materials, especially in peri-urban areas.The PhD pursued two main goals. First, based on a study of regional architects and builders, and in light of the evolution of legal frameworks and national real estate markets, it analyses the modalities of production of techno-centric “sustainable houses” that reflect the demands of environmental policies in terms of energy efficiency. Second, based on ethnographical approach and on the characterization of the trajectories of households, it looks into the experiences of residents, their appropriation of the “sustainable houses” and lifestyles. The PhD ultimately offers crosscutting insights into the impact of calls for energy sobriety and individual responsibility by reconsidering the “sustainable house” model and its effects on social and spatial inequalities.

En milieu urbain, la concurrence entre les enjeux de préservation de la biodiversité et de la densification du territoire est particulièrement développée. Dans une optique d’aide à la décision, une meilleure connaissance des zones les plus conflictuelles est requise. Face au constat d’insuffisance et d’inadéquation des données et des méthodes nécessaires à la cartographie des Trames vertes urbaines, notre travail s’intègre en premier lieu dans une démarche technique. Celle-ci est centrée sur la mise en place d’une méthode de traitement d’images satellitaires Très Haute Résolution Spatiale Pléiades (THRS) pour l’extraction de la végétation arborée et herbacée à l’échelle fine d’une emprise urbaine. D’abord appliquée à des données fictives, cette méthode est ensuite déployée sur quatre territoires (Toulouse, Muret, Pierrefite-Nestalas et Strasbourg). Bien que fondée sur une approche pixel, la simplicité de la méthode, qui s’appuie sur des outils libres, et les résultats obtenus (indice Kappa supérieur à 85 %) garantissent sa reproductibilité sur de vastes territoires plus ou moins urbanisés. Cette donnée de végétation est ensuite exploitée pour modéliser les connectivités écologiques potentielles du paysage urbain et périurbain toulousain. L’approche mobilise la théorie des graphes et permet d’évaluer l’impact d’un aménagement urbain sur la biodiversité. Le cas du Boulevard Urbain Nord de Toulouse est étudié. La cartographie proposée des réservoirs de biodiversité, hiérarchisés à l’aide de métriques de connectivité, est avant tout indicative. Elle est finalement confrontée à des documents d’urbanisme (Plans Locaux d’Urbanisme) afin d’obtenir une meilleure visibilité des territoires à enjeux environnementaux et urbanistiques. En fonction des enjeux fixés par les acteurs du territoire et à travers le filtre applicatif, cette thèse propose un outil robuste d’analyse et d’aide à la décision pour la gestion et la planification du territoire. / In urban areas, competition between land development and ecological conservation is intense. To assist decision making, a better knowledge of those areas of interest is required. Regarding inadequacy data and methods needed for ecological network mapping in urban areas, the aim of our study is to develop a method for semi-automatic vegetation extraction with Very High Spatial Resolution Pleiades imagery (VHSR). Initially applied to training samples, the process is then be deployed to four French study areas (Toulouse, Muret, Pierrefite-Nestalas and Strasbourg). The reproducibility of this method over large urbanized areas is ensured by its simplicity and the results of a pixel-based classification (kappa coefficient higher than 85 %). This extraction workflow uses free or open-source software. This vegetation data is then used in order to model potential ecological connectivity in Toulouse’s urban and peri-urban areas. Impacts on biodiversity due to urban planning are assessed using graph theory. The “Boulevard Urbain Nord de Toulouse” project, a road infrastructure, is studied. Graph metrics have been calculated to assess the level of connectivity at habitat patches and landscape scales. We classified the importance of the patches which is cross-tabulated with planning documents (PLU, a local town planning) in order to locate conflict urban areas: between biodiversity preservation and urbanization. Depending on the issues set out by local actors and through the application filter, this thesis proposes a robust analytical tool and decision-making aid for landscape management and land planning.

As bibliotecas dos Centros Educacionais Unificados (CEUs), implantadas a partir de 2003 na cidade de São Paulo, foram inicialmente celebradas como uma conquista significativa: primeiro em termos de cobertura territorial de bibliotecas na cidade; segundo como uma possibilidade única no desenvolvimento de uma atuação de caráter híbrido de biblioteca pública e escolar. Este trabalho apresenta e discute a proposta de biblioteca do CEU e verifica, através dos sujeitos e por meio da aplicação de entrevista semiestruturada como essas bibliotecas estão se configurando ao longo dos anos, principalmente em regiões de crise urbana (enchentes, desapropriações, violência, incêndios etc.). A análise dos dados evidenciou que as bibliotecas podem ser caracterizadas como: educativa, porém desligada do currículo escolar; aberta a toda a comunidade; inserida no projeto educacional de cada CEU, e preocupada com a formação da consciência cidadã, com linhas de ação que permitem a construção de uma biblioteca mais que híbrida, plural, no sentido de agregar múltiplos saberes, ampliando, portanto, sua esfera de atuação. Verificamos em alguns sujeitos envolvidos com a biblioteca, especialmente os bibliotecários, a intenção em criar vínculos com a sua comunidade sem, contudo, ignorar problemas próprios da periferia. Ao contrário, esses foram determinantes para a elaboração de projetos de bibliotecas específicos, propiciando as aberturas necessárias para que as pessoas pudessem circular no mundo da informação e da cultura. / The libraries of the Unified Educational Centres (Centros Educacionais Unificados - CEUs), implemented since 2003 in the city of São Paulo, were initially celebrated as a significant achievement: first of all in terms of territorial coverage of libraries in the city. Secondly, as having a unique hybrid character, being both a public library and a school library. This work introduces and discusses the library proposed by the CEUs and observes, through the subjects, by means of a semi-structured interview, how these libraries are shaping up/ over the years, mainly in the regions of urban crises (floods, expropriations, violence, fires etc.) The analysis of the data shows evidence that the libraries can be characterized as educational, albeit not connected to the school curriculum. They are open to all community, inserted in the educational project of each CEU and concerned with the formation of a conscient citizen. With courses of action that allow for the conception of a library that is not just hybrid but also plural, furnishing several diffrent types of knowledge and therefore expanding the scope of its action. We have observed, on the part of some of the subjects involved with the library and particularly the librarians; the intention of creating bonds with the community without, however, ignoring the problems of the periphery. They were key players in the elaboration of specific library projects, poviding the necessary opportunities for people to circulate in the world of information and culture.