Energy intervention programs have gained prominence in governmental policies and development agendas as a prevailing practice of improving rural livelihoods and protecting local environment and resources in developing rural areas since early 1970s. In spite of the increasing evidences of small-scale renewable energy systems being advantageous over traditional ones towards rural sustainability, the introduction and diffusion of the new energy systems in many developing rural areas has suffered program ineffectiveness in terms of slow construction, limited utilization, and high risks of being idled or abandoned by the adopters. While there are substantial studies documenting the challenges of rural energy planning, few scholars have devoted to the processes and efficacy of the planning practice. Literature has obvious gaps between planning theory and rural energy planning practice as no prior academic efforts were uncovered to use planning theory to examine the rural energy planning practice and to provide directions to future practice. Meanwhile, literature suggests that the integration of efficacy-oriented and context-dependent principles of planning theory into the energy planning processes can contribute to the effectiveness of rural energy intervention programs. Vital to the integration is the conduct of a study that critically assesses the rural energy planning processes against the insights drawn from planning theory and then provides policy implications for bridging the gaps between theory and practice. A review of literature on energy, planning, and community development in relation to sustainability led to an evaluative framework containing 24 criteria which were aggregated into six groups of principles, i.e., equity, flexibility, efficiency, participation, continuity and reflectivity. The principles were coupled respectively focusing on the operationalization, implementation, and monitoring processes of rural energy planning. Employing a primary case study design, the researcher conducted the field study in southern China’s Hainan province to examine whether the aggregated criteria were upheld and performed in local practices. In the field research, the author collected relative information and data through interviews, surveys, secondary sources, and direct observation. The data were analyzed in a mix of inter-related qualitative and quantitative methods. Where possible, the author used triangulation to limit individual and methodological biases. Hainan’s rural energy intervention programs of introducing and diffusion renewable energy systems such as anaerobic digesters and solar heaters in developing rural areas were significant contents of the provincial eco-village program and eco-province strategy. Although the energy programs had satisfactory effectiveness sporadically in a few villages, the majority of the programs suffered from problems like slow construction, limited utilization, and high risks of being idled or abandoned by the adopters. A number of challenges were recognized and mentioned by the administrative interviewees, including financial, technical, social, cultural, institutional and other constraints that support and conform to the discussions in literature. The study advances the understandings by identifying the gaps between planning theory and local rural energy planning practice in Hainan. Specifically, the equity principle was recognized but not totally fulfilled; the flexibility principle remained contentious and singularly executed; the efficiency principle was accepted but performed without enough scrutiny; the participation principle was emphasized but challenging; the continuity principle was aware of but not compulsorily executed; and the reflectivity principle was vague and overlooked. The author further analyzes that there will be barriers at the micro, meso, and macro levels to impede the integration of planning theory into rural energy planning practice. Extending the findings to a broader discussion on planning for development projects in developing rural areas, the author highlights a number of external and internal problems that harm the program effectiveness and calls for immediate and meaningful attention to ensuring program effectiveness. Several suggestions are provided for policy reconsideration and reorientation.

The built environment has mostly evolved under the influence of cultural heritage and has been shaped in response to our needs and resources. However, rapid changes have occurred in this environment with the impacts of globalization and mass production. The impact of these changes threatens to obliterate the unique character of rural settlements, which unlike urban areas still possess cultural identity. The aim of this study was to investigate the sustainable transmission of rural building heritage to prosperity / the potential of its adaptation for new settlements / and the interpretation of designing new houses in the light of traditional ones / as an integral part of sustainable rural development. To this end, a case study was conducted in the village of G&uuml / zel&ouml / z in Kayseri, where the transition from historical to contemporary styles and techniques was readily observable. The principles for effectively implementing projects which relate to the preservation and transmission of rural heritage have been formulated in the European Rural Heritage Observation Guide (ERHOG), which was initiated by Committee of Senior Officials of the European Conference of Ministers Responsible for Regional Planning/Spatial Planning (CEMAT) and the Village Design Statement (VDS) Packs, which were initiated by the Community Councils in United Kingdom (UK). The new development in G&uuml / zel&ouml / z village, as carried out by the Ministry of Public Works and Settlement (PWS) together with additions and alterations to existing traditional houses, were studied to understand the changing needs of the villagers. A comparative analysis was made between the level of satisfaction for both the traditional houses and post-disaster houses (PDH). An evaluation according to the ERHOG and VDS criteria was conducted for both types of houses regarding the relation of buildings with their immediate vicinity / use of materials / functional requirements / and constructional concerns. The results showed the importance of the recognition and promotion of cultural heritage to create an appropriate built environment.

Over the past several decades, food systems around the world have come to be increasingly dominated by a ‘conventional’ model, wherein production is heavily dependent on industrially-produced external inputs, and trade characterized by a globalized free market. However, alternatives to this model – that seek to challenge its hegemonic status and address its environmental, social, and economic shortcomings – are continuously emerging. While some of these alternatives are narrower in scope, others attempt more transformative change. One example of the latter category is the Red Mexicana de Tianguis y Mercados Orgánicos (Mexican Network of Local Organic Markets), which strives to move beyond the boundaries of the mainstream organic and local food sectors, instead adopting the more holistic discourse of the food sovereignty movement. The process of translating this discourse into practice remains a work in progress. Significant achievements have been made on a number of fronts, most notably: new market opportunities have been opened for small-scale, ecological producers; attitudes and behaviours regarding both production and consumption have been shifted, and; new institutions – that help enable and reinforce new values and behaviours – have begun to be constructed. Unsurprisingly, challenges exist as well. These include: significant reliance on donated resources; continued dependence on a relatively small group of leaders; the relative fragility of newly emerging institutions, and; a pervasive pessimism regarding the ability to scale up change within a context of political institutions perceived as corrupt, and beholden to agri-business influence. Although such challenges do constrain, to an extent, the efficacy of the organization, they do not by any means diminish the powerful impact of its work to demonstrate that alternative agri-food visions are possible. / Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, International Development Research Centre

Energy intervention programs have gained prominence in governmental policies and development agendas as a prevailing practice of improving rural livelihoods and protecting local environment and resources in developing rural areas since early 1970s. In spite of the increasing evidences of small-scale renewable energy systems being advantageous over traditional ones towards rural sustainability, the introduction and diffusion of the new energy systems in many developing rural areas has suffered program ineffectiveness in terms of slow construction, limited utilization, and high risks of being idled or abandoned by the adopters. While there are substantial studies documenting the challenges of rural energy planning, few scholars have devoted to the processes and efficacy of the planning practice. Literature has obvious gaps between planning theory and rural energy planning practice as no prior academic efforts were uncovered to use planning theory to examine the rural energy planning practice and to provide directions to future practice. Meanwhile, literature suggests that the integration of efficacy-oriented and context-dependent principles of planning theory into the energy planning processes can contribute to the effectiveness of rural energy intervention programs. Vital to the integration is the conduct of a study that critically assesses the rural energy planning processes against the insights drawn from planning theory and then provides policy implications for bridging the gaps between theory and practice. A review of literature on energy, planning, and community development in relation to sustainability led to an evaluative framework containing 24 criteria which were aggregated into six groups of principles, i.e., equity, flexibility, efficiency, participation, continuity and reflectivity. The principles were coupled respectively focusing on the operationalization, implementation, and monitoring processes of rural energy planning. Employing a primary case study design, the researcher conducted the field study in southern China’s Hainan province to examine whether the aggregated criteria were upheld and performed in local practices. In the field research, the author collected relative information and data through interviews, surveys, secondary sources, and direct observation. The data were analyzed in a mix of inter-related qualitative and quantitative methods. Where possible, the author used triangulation to limit individual and methodological biases. Hainan’s rural energy intervention programs of introducing and diffusion renewable energy systems such as anaerobic digesters and solar heaters in developing rural areas were significant contents of the provincial eco-village program and eco-province strategy. Although the energy programs had satisfactory effectiveness sporadically in a few villages, the majority of the programs suffered from problems like slow construction, limited utilization, and high risks of being idled or abandoned by the adopters. A number of challenges were recognized and mentioned by the administrative interviewees, including financial, technical, social, cultural, institutional and other constraints that support and conform to the discussions in literature. The study advances the understandings by identifying the gaps between planning theory and local rural energy planning practice in Hainan. Specifically, the equity principle was recognized but not totally fulfilled; the flexibility principle remained contentious and singularly executed; the efficiency principle was accepted but performed without enough scrutiny; the participation principle was emphasized but challenging; the continuity principle was aware of but not compulsorily executed; and the reflectivity principle was vague and overlooked. The author further analyzes that there will be barriers at the micro, meso, and macro levels to impede the integration of planning theory into rural energy planning practice. Extending the findings to a broader discussion on planning for development projects in developing rural areas, the author highlights a number of external and internal problems that harm the program effectiveness and calls for immediate and meaningful attention to ensuring program effectiveness. Several suggestions are provided for policy reconsideration and reorientation.

Geographic Contributions to the Rural Development of PerúTraditionally, Geography is understood as an academic science which main function is toprovide basic knowledge about territories but of less use for practical means; that is why it has been associated to History and therefore the least interest given by the Latin American policy makers when designing educational programs.The objective of this paper is to show that geographers are significantly contributing tosustainable development issues in different geographical environments, be these urban and rural.To do this I will show an experience on sustainable rural development in the Sierra of Piura, as an example of the application of the geographic and environmental knowledge, sensitizing the rural people to their ecosystems’ potential and the strategies for action in front of climate change.In a preliminary study there were identified the structural problems that impede sustainable development by information workshops and awareness to the teachers and community and municipal leaders. In a second stage we are working with peasants of two different ecological zones to inform them of their potential in plant resources and the ways how they may take advantage to put them at the urban markets, thus increasing their economic assets. To do this, we propose to help them in searching for those markets and provide advice in order to get just prices for their products.It is too early to quantitatively talk on the results because plants have a production cycle that needs to be experimented before they are distributed to the final stakeholders. Of course, this research is interdisciplinary and the geographers’ participation is due to their fine knowledge of the ecosystems and places where the experience is being done. / Tradicionalmente, la geografía es entendida como una ciencia académica que funciona bien proporcionando conocimientos básicos sobre los territorios, pero de poca aplicación práctica; de allí su asociación con la historia y el escaso interés que muestran los estrategas de políticas educativas en América Latina.El objetivo de este artículo es mostrar que los geógrafos vienen contribuyendo de manera muy significativa en temas de desarrollo sostenible en los diferentes ámbitos de los espacios geográficos, sean urbanos o rurales. Se tomará una experiencia de desarrollo rural aplicada a la sierra de Piura como muestra de la aplicación de los conocimientos geográficos ambientales, sensibilizando a las poblaciones rurales acerca de los potenciales de sus ecosistemas y de las estrategias de acción frente al cambio climático. En un primer estudio se identificaron los problemas estructurales que impiden el desarrollo sostenible con talleres de información y sensibilización dirigidos a los maestros y líderes comunales y municipales. En un segundo momento se viene trabajando con campesinos de dos zonas ecológicas distintas para informarles de sus potencialidades en recursos vegetales y de la forma cómo podrían aprovecharlos como complementode la agricultura e incrementar de esa manera sus ingresos económicos. También se buscarán mercados para los productos y se les asesorará en la comercialización buscando precios justos.Los resultados todavía no pueden cuantificarse porque las plantas tienen un ciclo productivo que necesita ser ensayado antes de distribuirlas a los usuarios. Por supuesto que el trabajo es interdisciplinario y la participación de los geógrafos está en el conocimiento fino que tienen del funcionamiento de los ecosistemas de los lugares de intervención

O Desenvolvimento Rural SustentÃvel à necessÃrio, portanto almejado pelo governo do estado do CearÃ, que vem buscando solucionar os problemas do semi-Ãrido com a implementaÃÃo de polÃticas de Desenvolvimento SustentÃvel, principalmente apÃs 1995, quando foi elaborado o primeiro Plano de Desenvolvimento SustentÃvel do estado do CearÃ. Desde entÃo, o governo do estado busca incorporar suas polÃticas de Desenvolvimento Rural SustentÃvel atravÃs de seus planos. Dessa forma, o trabalho se propÃe a analisar as mudanÃas ocorridas no meio rural a partir dos Planos de Desenvolvimento Rural SustentÃvel do Estado do CearÃ. Para tanto se realizou pesquisa documental e exploratÃria. Os resultados mostraram a realizaÃÃo de experiÃncias exitosas, no entanto alguns indicadores de sustentabilidade demonstraram que as estratÃgias de busca do Desenvolvimento Rural SustentÃvel ainda nÃo alcanÃaram efetivamente os resultados esperados atravÃs dos Planos, Programas e Projetos do governo no perÃodo de 1995 a 2008. / The Sustainable Rural Development is needed, so desired by the state government of CearÃ, which is seeking to solve the problems of semi-arid with the implementation of policies for sustainable development, especially after 1995, when he was drafted first Sustainable Development Plan of the state CearÃ. Since then, the state government seeks to incorporate policies for Sustainable Rural Development through its plans. Thus, the study is to analyze the changes occurring in rural areas from the Sustainable Rural Development Plans of the State of CearÃ. For both held documentary research and exploratory. The results showed the performance of successful experiences, although some sustainability indicators showed that the search strategies of the Sustainable Rural Development has not effectively achieved the desired results through the Plans, Programs and Projects of the government in the period 1995 to 2008.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T17:44:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rita_de_Cassia_Ribeiro.pdf: 1649367 bytes, checksum: 23190cbaea4ee160795f2112c8853812 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-28 / This research addresses the issue of sustainable rural development from the perspective of farmers, including the economic, social and environmental demands presented by these social actors of Paraná west. The research was conducted in order to ascertain the perception of farmers about the challenges and barriers to sustainable rural development, the cutout defined by the "Public-Lot Call 36" -West Paraná, resulting from contract between Emater Institute and Ministry of Agrarian Development, with coverage of nine municipalities (Formosa, Guaíra, Jesuítas, Marechal Cândido Rondon, Nova Santa Rosa, Santa Helena, Toledo, Tupãssi, Ubiratã). It started from the assumption that the family farmers, that beyond the economic dimension, possess broad awareness of other dimensions of sustainability, with emphasis on environmental and social issues. The field work of the technicians of the Institute Emater occurred by conducting 97 meetings, using the methodological tool of Participatory Rural Appraisal. The indicators obtained in rural areas were grouped into dimensions for analysis and discussion. Data were subjected to SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), version 20.0 for Windows. The results showed that the concerns of family farmers in the west of Paraná, are not restricted only to economic, but denote concern for future generations, with demands for social and environmental reasons / Este trabalho de pesquisa aborda, o tema do desenvolvimento rural sustentável na perspectiva dos agricultores familiares, incluindo as demandas econômicas, sociais e ambientais apresentadas por estes atores sociais do oeste paranaense. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida com o objetivo de entender a percepção dos agricultores familiares acerca dos desafios e entraves ao desenvolvimento rural sustentável, no recorte delimitado pela Chamada Pública-Lote 36 -Oeste do Paraná, resultante do contrato estabelecido entre Instituto Emater e Ministério de Desenvolvimento Agrário, com abrangência em nove municípios. Partiu-se do pressuposto que os agricultores familiares, que além da dimensão econômica, possuí ampla percepção das demais dimensões da sustentabilidade, com ênfase nas questões ambientais e sociais. O trabalho de campo desenvolvido pelos técnicos do Instituto Emater ocorreu através da realização de 97 reuniões, empregando-se a ferramenta metodológica de Diagnóstico Rural Participativo. Os indicadores obtidos no meio rural foram agrupados em dimensões para análise e discussão. Os dados foram submetidos ao programa SPSS (Statistical Package of Social Science), versão 20.0 for Windows. Os resultados demonstraram que os anseios dos agricultores familiares da região oeste do Paraná, não se restringem apenas aos aspectos econômicos, mas denotam preocupação com as gerações futuras, apresentando demandas de ordem social e ambiental

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:33:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_patricia_cartes_patricio.pdf: 5632426 bytes, checksum: 4a6b87b5bc65e95b85cbb8a6c23e0e06 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-20 / This thesis aimed to identify components in participatory planning methodologies.... / Esta tese teve como objetivo identificar componentes em metodologias de planejamento participativo....

Collaboration is increasingly seen as an important aspect for sustainable development and sustainability, both within academia as well as among practitioners. The very nature of many sustainability issues requires collaboration and in the Swedish context collaboration on a county level is deemed necessary for the achievement of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. The divide between urban and rural is likewise an important topic for achieving sustainability, where neither exist in isolation but are rather dependent on each other. Ensuring that Sweden has a thriving countryside, where people want to live and work is therefore paramount for sustainable development. With this backdrop this thesis takes a closer look at Uppsala county, with the aim of gaining a better understanding of public actors’ ability to collaborate for sustainable rural development in Uppsala county. The thesis was designed through co-design with Upplandsbygd Lokalt ledd utveckling, a LEADER-office located in Uppsala county, and implements a qualitative inductive research approach and a flexible research design. Through semi-structured interviews with officials from different public authorities, the thesis establishes what can be considered as challenges and opportunities for sustainable rural development as well as what may hinder or enable the actors’ ability to collaborate on these issues. The research show that differences such as organization size and resources can influence the collaborative process among public actors. The interview results also underline the different challenges the participants are faced with and how this may either inhibit their ability to collaborate or enhance their need to do so. Focusing on rural development, the thesis also discusses how the relationship between city and countryside is found to impact not only what challenges or opportunities the actors identifies, but also their ability to collaborate on sustainability issues. It concludes that the countryside is an important arena for sustainable development, and that collaboration among public actors on the county level is imperative for achieving sustainable rural development in a county like Uppsala. / Begreppet samverkan förekommer allt mer, både bland forskare och aktörer, när man talar om hållbar utveckling och hållbarhet. Själva karaktären hos många hållbarhetsfrågor kräver samarbete och i det svenska sammanhanget anses samverkan på regionalnivå vara nödvändigt för att uppnå Agenda 2030 och de globala målen för hållbar utveckling. Skillnaden mellan stad och landsbygd är också ett viktigt område för att uppnå hållbarhet. Både stad och landsbygd är beroende av varandra och deras respektive förutsättningar bör tas i beaktan när man diskuterar lösningar för en hållbar framtid. Att säkerställa att Sverige har en levande landsbygd, där människor vill bo och arbeta anses därför vara av största vikt för att säkerställa en hållbar utveckling inte bara av Sveriges landsbygder, utan för hela landet. Med denna bakgrund tar denna uppsats en närmare titt på Uppsala län, i syfte att få en bättre förståelse för offentliga aktörers förmåga att samverka när det gäller hållbar landsbygdsutveckling. Studien är utformad genom samdesign med Upplandsbygd Lokalt ledd utveckling och tillämparen kvalitativ induktiv forskningsmetod med en flexibel forskningsdesign. Genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med tjänstemän från olika offentliga myndigheter, fastställer föreliggande studie vad som kan betraktas som utmaningar och möjligheter för hållbar landsbygdsutveckling samt vad som kan hindra eller möjliggöra för aktörerna att samverkan i dessa frågor. Studien visar att skillnader som organisationsstorlek och tillgång till resurser, både i form av finansiella medel likväl som personal och arbetstid, kan påverka samarbetsprocessen mellan aktörerna. Resultaten från intervjuerna understryker också de olika utmaningarna som deltagarna står inför och hur dessa antingen kan hämma deras förmåga att samarbeta eller öka deras behov av samverkan. Med fokus på landsbygdsutveckling diskuterar uppsatsen förhållandet mellan stad och landsbygd och hur det påverkar inte bara vilka utmaningar eller möjligheter aktörerna ser, utan också deras förmåga att samarbeta kring hållbarhetsfrågor. I uppsatsen dras slutsatsen att landsbygden är en viktig arena för hållbarhetsfrågor, och att samverkan mellan offentliga aktörer på regionalnivå är nödvändigt för att uppnå en hållbar landsbygdsutveckling i ett län som Uppsala. Regional samhällsplanering föreslås också som en potentiell väg framåt för aktörerna i studien. Därtill förs en diskussion kring vilken roll Upplandsbygd Lokalt ledd utveckling bör ta i det fortsatta arbetet mot hållbar landsbygdsutveckling.

Sustainable development is an evolutionary process in which all ethnic groups live in harmony with a healthy environment. For approximately forty years, Laos has been subjected to many disruptions. Minority groups, like the Hmong, have felt the full impact of the numerous socio-political and economic changes that took place in the country. The Hmong, in particular, who live in mountainous regions and practice slash and burn agriculture, have suffered from economic and social inequality policies practiced by previous governments. The progressive transformation of their methods of land use, their mode of production and their migrant lifestyle must clearly be understood before any attempt at a sedentary lifestyle with a view to a sustainable development be undertaken. The underprivileged Hmong aspire to better living conditions comparable to those of people living in the plains.