A main challenge facing spatial planning today issustainable development, in official documents defined asecological, social and economic sustainability. In a powerperspective these three dimensions can be characterised ascompeting discourses. Another challenge facing local authorityplanners is how to work in open processes with a growing numberof actors and stakeholders, in addition often as parties inchanging organisations. Altogether this provides a very complexcontext for local authority spatial planning and itsprofessional planners. This report is based on an investigation of how politicaland societal activities on European, national and local levelsare influencing the local authority spatial planning processes.The focus is on how planning is being administrated, and howplanning officers can manage planning processes in complexcontexts. The main research questions are how political visionsand objectives regarding sustainable development are managed inlocal authority spatial planning? And how can the growingnumber of actors and stakeholders with a wide range ofknowledge, interests and values be managed in such complexplanning contexts? Two case studies in Sweden have provided the empiricalmaterial. The first is a study of planners in local authoritiesof various sizes and spread geographic locations. The second isa detailed study of the planning organisation in a medium-sizedlocal authority with two major on-going planning processes.Qualitative research methods have been used in theinvestigation, direct interviews with the main actors, documentstudies and observations. The result of this study is an understanding of some theelements and connections in the complex situation facing thelocal authority planning administrations. These are describedin terms of competing policy discourses, each of which isrelated to and managed in different local planning directions.Why some discourses are stronger than others is discussed. Alsoidentified in the study are the problems involved in how thelocal planning administrations and the planners manage thiscomplexity. These problems are interpreted and formulated asdifferent types of dilemmas related to wider planning issues.Also problematised is how the planning organisation andplanners are managing these dilemmas. The findings from the study are relevant for those involvedin spatial planning education, making students conscious aboutthe complex contexts in planning practice. The study is alsorelevant for professional planners in order to fosterself-reflection and discussion about the problems they areinvolved in their daily work and how these can be managed inthe complex arena of spatial planning today.

The purpose of this study is to improve understanding of how (a) principles of sustainable development (SD) have been implemented in an ecovillage setting, as well as (b) to analyze internal and external challenges faced by the ecovillagers in their pursuit of sustainable living. The specific research objectives of this study are these: i) examine the sustainable practices of an ecovillage according to Agenda 21 principles; ii) document key and unique elements of the ecovillage approach to SD; iii) identify challenges faced by O.U.R. Ecovillage residents in SD practices implementation and recognise opportunities to improve the implementation of SD principles in the ecovillage. To meet these objectives the study was carried out in one of the most developed ecovillages in Canada - O.U.R. ecovillage, located in the Cowichan Valley region, British Columbia. Multiple research methods that were used included: interviews, focus group, participant observation, research photography and document analysis. Research findings revealed numerous innovative sustainable practices implemented in the ecovillage. Discussed areas include shelter provision, governance, construction practices, environmental infrastructure, human resource development, planning in disaster prone areas, land-use management as well as energy and transportation systems. Many processes initiated by the ecovillage are only in the experimental stage and require improvement. However, O.U.R. Ecovillage is an important educational center for sustainability due not only to specific practices but also its holistic approach to SD that balances the needs of individuals, community, and the environment. The research also presents various internal and external challenges that obstruct SD of the community. Main difficulties faced by the community throughout its development are related first to strong individualistic cultural values dominant in western society that contradict many sustainable practices applied in the ecovillage. A second obstacle to SD in the community is posed by the inflexibility of regulatory authorities that greatly complicates implementation of innovative holistic practices. Lessons learned from O.U.R. Ecovillage might assist other groups in Canada and abroad to proceed with local initiatives towards sustainability.

The ambition in this study is to acknowledge the importance of involving local people in sustainable development work. Also to emphasize the great value of collaboration between global organisations, grassroots organisations and local people in the progress of development work. The method being used in this thesis is mainly semi-structured interviews with six representatives from four different non-governmental organisations, NGOs. Two of these organisations have a more environmental and conservation purpose while the other two focus more on the human perspective as they are working with empowerment, education and food security.The area that I have chosen for this research is called Nilgiris which is located in south India. In this research I focused on World Wildlife Fund, WWF, as a global organisation and the purpose is to see whether or not they collaborate with some of the local grassroots organisations in the area. Local organisations generally have good contact with the local people so I consider them as a link between the global organisation and the local people. The theories I have used are a theory of sustainable development, which argues that none of the three approaches, economic, environmental or social can be excluded when sustainable development is pursued. I have also focused on Participatory Rural Appraisal, PRA, this theory is underlying the importance of the local people’s involvement and that organisations must trust the local people’s capacity. The third theory for this research is three interpretations of environment. The conclusion is that co-operation between the global and local organisations are essential in the process of making good sustainable development. The local people that are being affected and emerged in various development projects need to be involved and informed about the project´s aim for the projects to be successful.

Using the strategic planning of market orientation as the foundation, this study investigates how to increase local industry economic value. First, the theory of marketing place will be provided to understand the essences for marketing place. Then analyze and induct it in the primary consideration of regional construction and regional economic development. Part II integrates the idea of strategic planning and the concept of local development in order to understand the application value of the future local development; in addition, the strategic planning of market orientation is mainly adopted in strategic planning to investigate the relations of overall development of local resources. Finally, the general situation and the development term analysis of Yen-chao Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien was illustrated to explore the drawing up of developing objective and marketing place strategies of Yen-chao Hsiang and control and evaluate the operation of the whole strategy. The main contents consist of the making of developing objective of Yen-chao Hsiang, regional marketing strategies and planning of Yen-chao Hsiang, and drawing up and control and evaluation of executing design. In order to define the developing function, the subsequent objective, subject, strategies, and idea, this study analyzes the interior and exterior environment of Yen-chao Hsiang through SWOT analysis. SWOT analysis is performed to explore strengths and weaknesses of the interior environment and opportunities and threats of the exterior environment of Yen-chao Hsiang, and to propose the objective, subject, strategy and idea to conform to the given strengths and opportunities and avoid weaknesses and possible threats of Yen-chao Hsiang for getting the most suitable developing direction and conceptual framework. In general, the purpose of this study intends to take the development of an area, especially to those areas (districts) which take industries, tourism development as their principal construction, as a ¡§merchandise,¡¨ with the theory and concept of a merchandise or industry promotion and with the consideration of market competition and orientation, we can investigate and map out the subject and strategy of its development. In Yen-chao Hsien, it is proved that a part of them are focused on three main objects as college teachers and students, new residents and citizens to be, in drawing up a contribution selling plan (4P). The study showed that to take the promotion of a city or district as an enterprise in the future and to consider its management and operation, actively to promote the strategy of marketing, will be an important point of consideration and style for the development of many places in Taiwan. Therefore, we suggest the future researchers to analyze and study the concept and theory of enterprise operation and management as well as market operation and competition deeply and firmly, and to combine them closely with local administrative managements, future industry development in every effort and to make discussions. Key words: marketing place, SWOT, sustainable development

Abstract This research aims to analyze and compare the proportion of sentences conforming with sustainable development concept in three versions of elementary Chinese and Social Studies textbooks, of Kang Xuan, Han Lin and Nan Yi versions, and to understand elementary and junior high school students' knowledge, recognition and myths on sustainable development conception. It was also analyzed the sustainable development conceptual differences of the students with different background variables, and made an integrated research conclusions. The research proceeds document analysis method and questionnaire inquiry method. The former is in accordance with ten Principles of National Sustainable Development of Taiwan to analyze sentences conforming with sustainable development principles in three versions of Chinese and Social Studies textbooks. Subjects responding to the sustainable development concept recognition questionnaire consist of 2850 students of elementary and junior high school. Statistical analysis including mean, standard deviation, percentage and the analysis of variance were computed to understand the state, myths and differences of pupil's sustainable development conception. The results indicated that three versions of Chinese and Social Studies textbooks present plentiful proportion of sentences conforming with sustainable development principles, especially centralizing on three principles ¡§generation fairness¡¨, ¡§environment carrying¡¨, and ¡§balance consideration¡¨. In Chinese Studies, the proportion of sentences of Kang Xuan centralizes Book Nine; the high grade of Han Lin's proportion of sentences is higher than the low grade's; each volume of Nan Yi's proportion of sentences tends to average. In Social Studies, the proportion of sentences of three versions all centralizes Book Twelve and Seven, but it is very little in other volumes. Moreover, the results indicated that both high school and elementary school students' sustainable development conception reaches approximately acceptable degree. The reason is that students¡¦ recognition toward sustainable development conception really implies myths, especially students often think that the behaviors good for human living practical purpose are in accordance with sustainable development. However, they neglect ecological consequences on sequential environmental damage. It reveals that students' sustainable development conception is not so clear and profound. Besides, this research showed two significant two-way interaction effects. One is for the variables of grade and area on three subscales ¡§balance consideration¡¨, ¡§generation fairness¡¨, ¡§advance prevention¡¨ and total score. The other is for the variables of school and area on the subscale "balance consideration¡¨ and total score. Significant main effects include that (1) girl students¡¦ scores are significantly higher than boy students¡¦ on ¡§balance consideration¡¨, ¡§environment carrying¡¨, ¡§generation fairness¡¨ subscales and total score; (2) the first grade high school students¡¦ scores are significantly higher than the sixth grade elementary school students¡¦ on ¡§environment carrying¡¨ subscale and total score; (3) high school students¡¦ scores are significantly higher than elementary school students¡¦ on ¡§balance consideration¡¨ and ¡§environment carrying¡¨ subscales; and (4) scores of the students in the suburbs are significantly higher than the scores of the students in a city on ¡§generation fairness¡¨ subscale.

The beautiful Penghu Archipelagos is a prefecture which has most amount islands of our country. It has about ninety islands, but all of the islands, uninhabited islands are about seventy- one. They have unique features. In recent years, the issue of island was very important on international. Because of that, many countries organized international conference of island continually. They wish they can have a common view in development and idea of island. That is sustainable management. The islands are very special. So they are important heritage of people and everyone think islands are very important. But the damage of islands was to be there for all to see. Our country was not to pay much attention to the issue of island, So we have not the administration of archipelagos and laws or regulations, For this reason, this study applies the major research methods including on-site observation, literature review and in-depth interview. Through the major research methods, the study found some question of Penghu Archipelagos as tourism, smuggling, geography management and the fisherman of China to operator in our waters. All of those questions are about human activities, and we have not complete policy and education of archipelagos. Therefore, the study also analyze the questions for Penghu Archipelagos with SWOT method. Some archipelagos conservation and management cases discussed in this study include China, Indonesia, Japan and Finland. With this idea of other country, the thesis then makes a proposal to protect archipelagos in Penghua. Penghua Island didn¡¦t have the question of sovereign rights, so it didn¡¦t have international dispute in management. But the other remote islands (Kinmen, Matzu, Dongsha and Nanshn)have very long distance with Taiwan, so they have some question of sovereign rights. Many countries make improvement in their question of archipelagos, and those questions will get better solutions in the future, All of the suggests to be include in follow research, that will make the literature on archipelagos more exciting.

<p>A main challenge facing spatial planning today issustainable development, in official documents defined asecological, social and economic sustainability. In a powerperspective these three dimensions can be characterised ascompeting discourses. Another challenge facing local authorityplanners is how to work in open processes with a growing numberof actors and stakeholders, in addition often as parties inchanging organisations. Altogether this provides a very complexcontext for local authority spatial planning and itsprofessional planners.</p><p>This report is based on an investigation of how politicaland societal activities on European, national and local levelsare influencing the local authority spatial planning processes.The focus is on how planning is being administrated, and howplanning officers can manage planning processes in complexcontexts. The main research questions are how political visionsand objectives regarding sustainable development are managed inlocal authority spatial planning? And how can the growingnumber of actors and stakeholders with a wide range ofknowledge, interests and values be managed in such complexplanning contexts?</p><p>Two case studies in Sweden have provided the empiricalmaterial. The first is a study of planners in local authoritiesof various sizes and spread geographic locations. The second isa detailed study of the planning organisation in a medium-sizedlocal authority with two major on-going planning processes.Qualitative research methods have been used in theinvestigation, direct interviews with the main actors, documentstudies and observations.</p><p>The result of this study is an understanding of some theelements and connections in the complex situation facing thelocal authority planning administrations. These are describedin terms of competing policy discourses, each of which isrelated to and managed in different local planning directions.Why some discourses are stronger than others is discussed. Alsoidentified in the study are the problems involved in how thelocal planning administrations and the planners manage thiscomplexity. These problems are interpreted and formulated asdifferent types of dilemmas related to wider planning issues.Also problematised is how the planning organisation andplanners are managing these dilemmas.</p><p>The findings from the study are relevant for those involvedin spatial planning education, making students conscious aboutthe complex contexts in planning practice. The study is alsorelevant for professional planners in order to fosterself-reflection and discussion about the problems they areinvolved in their daily work and how these can be managed inthe complex arena of spatial planning today.</p>

Univ., Diss.--Utrecht, 2006.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-134).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-153).