近年来，中国的农村建设飞速发展，农村的建筑格局和生活方式也发生了很大变化。与此同时，中国的建成环境评估体系尚处在起步阶段。面对大规模的新农村建设对农村人居环境产生的巨大冲击，缺乏一个完善的建成环境评估体系已经成为农村建设日益突出的问题。 / 本研究梳理了西南农村地区可持续建筑环境评估的必要性、操作策略和评估框架。通过对国内外可持续发展理论、可持续建筑理论和建筑环境评估体系理论的研究，以及对西南农村地区现状的调查分析，本研究建立起了一套适用于西南贫困农村地区的建成环境可持续性评估框架。它包括评估的目的、范围、项目指标、运作方式等内容。评估系统的项目和指标分涵盖了可持续发展的环境、社会和经济三个方面，这些项目和指标充分强调了西南贫困农村地区的特点，以区别于一般的城市建筑评估体系。此外，本研究对三个不同的村落进行了案例分析，将不同的建筑评估体系对案例的评估结果进行了比较，以考察不同评估体系对西南贫困农村地区的适应性和灵敏度。分析结果显示，西南农村地区建筑环境可持续性评估体系框架最能充分适应当地实际情况，对案例做出全面的评价。 / 研究结果表明，西南贫困农村地区建成环境可持续性评估体系框架结合了可持续发展、可持续建筑理论和西南贫困农村地区的实际情况，为西南贫困农村地区的可持续建筑提供了一个全面的认识和评估的框架。它是西南贫困农村地区可持续建筑评价体系的雏形，也为西南贫困农村的可持续建设发展提供了指导和思路。 / 本研究主要有以下几点成果： / -本研究为中国西南贫困农村地区的建成环境可持续性评估提供了一个全面的理解和认识。与中国目前常规的农村发展模式不同的是，本研究强调了农村的内源性发展模式。 / -本研究建立了中国西南贫困农村地区的建成环境可持续性评估体系框架。该框架可以作为更加具体的评估标准和评估工具的建立基础。 / -对中国西南贫困农村地区的建成环境可持续性评估体系的认识和框架建立，亦可作为农村建设的设计指导依据。 / 本研究的局限性： / -本研究只建立了评估系统的框架，具体的定量评价指标、权重体系和评分方法还未建立。本研究的成果还不能作为评估工具使用。 / -本研究主要针对的是中国西南贫困农村地区。中国各地农村的自然环境和社会发展条件都各不相同，本研究不能覆盖所有的中国农村地区。 / In recent years, China’s rural areas developed rapidly, the settlement pattern and lifestyle in rural areas are also changing rapidly. At the same time, the development of built environmental assessment system in China is still in the initial stage. In the face of tremendous impact on rural settlement environment from the massive New Countryside Construction, the lack of comprehensive built environmental assessment system has become an increasingly prominent issue. / This study furthers the field by clarifying the necessity, strategies and framework of built environmental sustainability assessment in poor rural areas of Southwest China. This study reviewed the sustainable development theories, sustainable architecture theories and built environmental assessment methods in China and abroad; investigated the current situation and problems of village development and built environmental construction in poor rural areas of Southwest China. Based on these theories and context, a framework of rural built environmental sustainability assessment system including the assessment purpose, scope, issues and indicators were established. This framework covers environmental, social, and economic aspects. It provided the main issues and features of built environmental sustainability of poor rural areas of Southwest China which are quite different from urban areas. Then, three different cases were analyzed with different building environmental assessment system. Analysis outcomes were compared and discussed to investigate the applicability and sensitivity of existing assessment systems and the rural built environmental sustainability assessment system established by this study. The result shows that the framework of rural built environmental sustainability assessment system is more suitable for poor rural areas of Southwest China than other existing assessment systems. / Establishing a comprehensive understanding of sustainable development model and assessment system of rural areas is one of the significant strategies to solve the contradiction and problems between rural construction and sustainable development in poor rural areas of Southwest China. Furthermore, the promotion of sustainable rural development is to solve the much larger, longer-term problem of villagers leaving and abandoning their villages to move to the city in search of better living conditions. It is believed that a way to solve the problem is to raise the standard of the villages to a higher level of amenity and comfort for villagers and make it affordable and sustainable for them. / There are several main contributions of this study: / This study provided a comprehensive understanding of built environment sustainability of poor rural areas of Southwest China. Different from conventional rural development model in China, this study emphasizes the endogenous development model of rural areas. / This study established a framework of built environmental sustainability assessment system of poor rural areas of Southwest China. A more specific and detailed standard or rating tool can be developed based on this framework. / The understanding and assessment framework of built environmental sustainability of poor rural areas of Southwest China also can be used as a reference for the design and construction of rural built environment. / There are some limitations in this study: / This study only established the framework of the assessment system. The specific quantitative evaluation criteria have not been developed yet. And the weighting and rating method is also not yet been established. Therefore it is still can’t be used as a rating tool. / This study is mainly focusing on the poor rural areas of Southwest China. The natural and social conditions of different areas of rural China are quite different from each other. This study cannot cover all of the rural areas of China. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Wan, Li. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 207-213). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGMENT --- p.v / CONTENTS --- p.vi / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.ix / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xii / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Context and problems --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Objectives and significance --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Methodology --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4 --- Research scope and definitions --- p.7 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW AND HYPOTHESIS --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1 --- Sustainability and building environmental assessment --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Sustainable development and sustainability --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Sustainable architecture and approaches --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Ecovillage and sustainable communities --- p.20 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Building environmental assessment method --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2 --- Rural construction and rural built environmental assessment --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Rural development and countryside construction --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Rural Built environmental sustainability assessment --- p.37 / Chapter 2.3 --- Hypothesis of this study --- p.41 / Chapter 2.4 --- Summary and conclusions --- p.42 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- CONTEXT OF SOUTHWEST RURAL CHINA AND ITS INSPIRATION --- p.43 / Chapter 3.1 --- Context of southwest rural China --- p.43 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Natural environment --- p.43 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Social conditions --- p.52 / Chapter 3.2 --- Sustainable development of southwest rural China --- p.54 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Current situation and ecological potential of southwest rural China --- p.54 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Development models and sustainable construction practice in southwest rural China --- p.57 / Chapter 3.3 --- Inspiration to built environmental sustainability assessment --- p.60 / Chapter 3.4 --- Summary and conclusions --- p.63 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- FRAMEWORK OF BUILT ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT SYSTEM OF POOR RURAL AREAS OF SOUTHWEST CHINA --- p.64 / Chapter 4.1 --- Rural Built Environmental Sustainability Assessment System (RBESAS) --- p.64 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Aims of assessment --- p.64 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Scope of assessment --- p.64 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Structure and levels of the system --- p.67 / Chapter 4.2 --- Self-reliance capability issues and indicators --- p.68 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Issue 1: Land and resources conservation --- p.69 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Issue 2: Waste management --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Issue 3: Pollution control --- p.72 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Issue 4: Food self-reliance --- p.74 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Issue 5: Water self-reliance --- p.77 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Issue 6: Housing self-reliance --- p.82 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Issue 7: Safety and security --- p.88 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- Issue 8: Health and well-being --- p.89 / Chapter 4.2.9 --- Issue 9: Energy self-reliance --- p.91 / Chapter 4.2.10 --- Issue 10: Economic self-reliance --- p.103 / Chapter 4.3 --- Development capability issues and indicators --- p.104 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Issue 11: Sustainable landscaping --- p.105 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Issue 12: Sustainable agriculture --- p.107 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Issue 13: Culture and context --- p.109 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Issue 14: Inclusiveness and participation --- p.112 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Issue 15: Education and information --- p.114 / Chapter 4.4 --- Summary of issues of the assessment system --- p.115 / Chapter 4.5 --- Evaluation and assessment output --- p.117 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Quantitative and qualitative evaluation --- p.118 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- User-friendly for rural area --- p.118 / Chapter 4.6 --- Stakeholders and operation --- p.120 / Chapter 4.7 --- Summary and conclusions --- p.122 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- CASE STUDY --- p.124 / Chapter 5.1 --- Case I: Liudou Village --- p.126 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Project description --- p.126 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Analysis --- p.129 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Discussion --- p.150 / Chapter 5.2 --- Case II: Group 3 of Ma'anqiao Village --- p.151 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Project description --- p.151 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Analysis --- p.154 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Discussion --- p.172 / Chapter 5.3 --- Case III: Group 2 of Ma'anqiao Village --- p.172 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Project description --- p.172 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Analysis --- p.180 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Discussion --- p.197 / Chapter 5.4 --- Summary and conclusions --- p.197 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS --- p.200 / Chapter 6.1 --- Research summary --- p.200 / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Fundamental research --- p.200 / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Establishment of the framework of RBESAS --- p.201 / Chapter 6.1.3 --- Case study --- p.204 / Chapter 6.2 --- Conclusion and discussion --- p.204 / Chapter 6.3 --- Research contributions and limitations --- p.205 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Research contributions --- p.205 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Research limitations --- p.206 / Chapter 6.4 --- Needs for further research --- p.206 / REFERENCE --- p.207

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is titled “Exploring the efficacy of community-based natural resource management in Salambala Conservancy, Caprivi Region, Namibia”. Salambala was one of the first four conservancies to be registered in Namibia following the development of legislation which enabled local people on communal lands to obtain conditional rights for the consumptive and non-consumptive use of wildlife in their defined area, and thereby to benefit from wildlife. Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), an approach to natural resource management which rests on sustainable development, is the theoretical basis for this study. Characteristics of CBNRM, a brief history of its implementation and impacts in southern Africa and key principles for sustainable CBNRM initiatives shall be discussed. The study includes a discussion on the history and development of Salambala, but focuses specifically on two issues, (i) whether Salambala is a sustainable community-based resource management initiative as per the principles required for sustainable CBNRM, and (ii), whether it is meeting its own stated aims and objectives. This study demonstrates that Salambala Conservancy is adhering to the principles required for sustainable CBNRM and that it is, on the whole, achieving its aims and objectives. It is thus delivering benefits to the community which, currently, outweigh the costs of living with wildlife, and wildlife numbers are increasing. In addition, the vast majority of local people surveyed have support for the initiative. However, there are a few critical issues which must be addressed, such as human-wildlife conflict and the need to increase benefits through, for example, further tourism development, if Salambala is to continue on this path. The methodology used during the study included interviews, the use of questionnaires on a sample of the population and extensive documentary analysis of both CBNRM and the history of Salambala’s development. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing is getiteld “’n Ondersoek na die doeltreffendheid van gemeenskapsbaseerde natuurlike hulpbronbestuur in die Salambala bewaar-area in die Caprivi streek in Namibië”. Salambala was die eerste van vier bewaar-areas wat in Namibië geregistreer is nadat spesifieke wetgewing ontwikkel is. Hierdie wetgewing het plaaslike inwoners in staat gestel om voorwaardelike regte op gemeenskaplike grond te bekom om die natuur te verbruik (bv. vir jag doeleindes) of te gebruik (bv.vir toerisme), en so baat te vind by die natuur. Gemeenskapsgebaseerde natuurlike hulpbronbestuur (GGNHB), ‘n benadering tot natuurlike hulpbronbestuur wat berus op volhoubare ontwikkeling, is die teoretiese basis van hierdie studie. Kenmerke van GGNHB, ‘n kort historiese oorsig van die implementering en impak daarvan in suidelike Afrika, asook sleutel beginsels vir volhoubare GGNHB sal bespreek word. Die studie sluit ook ‘n bespreking in van die geskiedenis en ontwikkeling van Salambala, met spesifieke fokus op twee kwessies: (i) of Salambala ‘n volhoubare gemeenskapsgebaseerde hulpbron bestuursinisiatief is soos vervat in die beginsels vir ‘n volhoubare GGNHB; en (ii), of dit aan sy verklaarde doelwitte en oogmerke voldoen. Die studie toon aan dat die Salambala bewaar-area voldoen aan die beginsels wat vereis word vir volhoubare GGNHB en dat dit, in die geheel gesien, sy beplande doelwitte en oogmerke bereik. Dit lewer dus voordele aan die gemeenskap wat op die oomblik meer is as die kostes verbonde aan ‘n bestaan na aan die natuur. Verder neem die wildgetalle toe en toon ‘n opname onder die plaaslike bevolking oorweldigende steun vir die inisiatief. Daar is egter ‘n paar kritieke kwessies wat aandag verg, soos die konflik tussen inwoners en die wildlewe, asook die behoefte aan meer voordele wat verkry kan word deur middel van, byvoorbeeld, verdere toerisme-ontwikkeling - sou Salambala voortgaan met hierdie onderneming. Die metodologie wat in die studie gebruik is sluit in onderhoude, die gebruik van vraelyste op ‘n deursnit van die bevolking asook ‘n breedvoerige dokumentêre analise van beide GGNHB en die geskiedenis van die Salambala se ontwikkeling.

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

International evidence clearly indicates that water shortages and the enhanced value attached to water and aquatic ecosystems are key concerns faced by many countries. International experience, since the mid-1980s, has emphasised the importance of addressing political, social, environmental and economic issues through active stakeholder participation in riverine and water resource management. These trends and issues are relevant to South Africa, where integrated water resource management (IWRM) is now a cornerstone of water resource policy and the National Water Act (NWA). Apartheid excluded communities in former homelands (racial reserves) from participation in IWRM. The research presented in this thesis was based on the search for philosophies and methods to involve the rural, former homeland people of the Kat River Valley in South Africa in IWRM. Post-modern, humanist and some logical positivist geographical philosophies were used during the research. This research applied Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) philosophy and methods and was influenced by the seminal work of Paolo Freire (1972). In addition, the use of innovative methods for engagement of the oppressed, using theatre methods developed by Augusto Boal (1995, 2000) was explored to add value to PRA. In addition, the application of Action Research ensured that community participants were actively involved in the research being conducted for this thesis. The applied research in the Kat River Valley in South Africa evolved through three key phases. In Phase One quantifiable data on the Kat River Valley and its residents was sought. This investigation did not empower the resident communities of Fairbairn and Hertzog – a lesson that influenced the move to more participatory methods in subsequent phases of the research. Lessons learned from using surveys encouraged exploration of participatory methods to enable participants to become “co-learners”. Phase Two of the research commenced with a series of feedback meetings, in which participants recognised that they faced an environmental crisis. Through a series of participatory workshops, residents came to acknowledge and affirm their environmental knowledge. Residents then committed themselves to gaining a deeper understanding of their environment and their lives. My role changed from that of a researcher to a facilitator. Phase Three of the research and the shift to Action Research commenced after local residents identified the need to personally take charge of their environmental challenges in the Kat River Valley and recognised the need to collaborate at a catchment scale for effective IWRM. This eventually led to the formation of a Water User Association and Catchment Forum. The key theoretical contribution of the thesis relates to the identified relationship between the development orientation and ecological paradigm, and an assessment of the impact this has on the inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes of IWRM. This theoretical contribution is equally valid in other countries, where the tradeoffs are essentially the same, but the framework for making the choices is different because of varying socio-economic and biophysical circumstances

This research was conducted in one of the districts in the Oromia region located in the Central Rift Valley to assess the problem of soil erosion and deforestation and to determine how these drivers of land degradation affect the livelihoods of farmers. The research was a case study undertaken in an identified micro-watershed making use of the questionnaire interview method. A household sample was obtained using a simple random sampling technique; Information interviews were conducted with community representatives, district level experts and development agents who worked in the community. The objective of the research was to assess the levels of soil erosion and deforestation and the impact on the livelihoods of the community. Research methods were questionnaire and direct observation. The results of the study indicated that the effects of soil erosion and deforestation on land productively, agriculture and livestock production at large, had a negative effect on livelihoods of the community members. Recommendations based on the research affirm the necessity to undertake large-scale natural resource management starting with community-based watershed management thereby reducing the impact of land degradation on livelihoods of farmers and ensuring food security and sustainable land management. / Agriculture, Animal Health & Human Ecology / M.A. (Human Ecology)

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of Government and Public Administration

Many people in Africa, due to high levels of poverty, rely directly on natural resources and the environment for their livelihoods. Different mechanisms have been employed over the years to address poverty and local livelihoods in the context of conservation. Community Conservation Areas and the sustainable livelihood approach are examples of these mechanisms. Increasingly, these and other mechanisms have reinforced the view that unless the risks and opportunities presented by poverty to local livelihoods are addressed, many conservation efforts are bound to fail. The research reported here was based on the premise that appropriate mechanisms that explicitly address poverty and local livelihoods are a necessary prerequisite to successfully engaging local people in conservation. Such mechanisms assure the sustainability of local livelihoods and present opportunities for conservation initiatives to succeed within the context of human societies that are dependent on associated ecosystems and resources. The Maloti-Drakensberg mountains region in South Africa was the study site and the proposed Ngelengele Nature Reserve, a Community Conservation Area, was used as a case study. The amaHlubi community people constituted the study's respondents. The study was largely qualitative, drawing on both primary and secondary sources of data in the form of interviewer-administered questionnaire and documentary analysis respectively. Field observations and discussions with respondents complemented the interviews. By adopting the sustainable livelihoods framework to understand and analyse the livelihoods of the amaHlubi community, the study highlighted concerns about livelihood assets with the conclusion that there is a high dependence on natural resources mainly for domestic purposes, and in general most of the assets are non existent. The study also highlighted the level of awareness and community support towards Ngelengele Nature Reserve, as well as the reserve's implications on local livelihoods. Although some stated that the objectives of Ngelengele Nature Reserve remain unclear, the majority of respondents showed high expectations and support for the project. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

This research was conducted in one of the districts in the Oromia region located in the Central Rift Valley to assess the problem of soil erosion and deforestation and to determine how these drivers of land degradation affect the livelihoods of farmers. The research was a case study undertaken in an identified micro-watershed making use of the questionnaire interview method. A household sample was obtained using a simple random sampling technique; Information interviews were conducted with community representatives, district level experts and development agents who worked in the community. The objective of the research was to assess the levels of soil erosion and deforestation and the impact on the livelihoods of the community. Research methods were questionnaire and direct observation. The results of the study indicated that the effects of soil erosion and deforestation on land productively, agriculture and livestock production at large, had a negative effect on livelihoods of the community members. Recommendations based on the research affirm the necessity to undertake large-scale natural resource management starting with community-based watershed management thereby reducing the impact of land degradation on livelihoods of farmers and ensuring food security and sustainable land management. / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M.A. (Human Ecology)