Sustainable Development: Ecosystem Management

Increasingly, resource and environmental management issues are considered within the emerging framework of sustainability (sustainable development, ecologically sustainable development, sustainable environmental management). While this notion has great potential as an integrative framework, current mainstream approaches and definitions tend to be vague, inoperative and do not translate well to the level of management in specific ecosystems. The current debate about "sustainable development" lacks structure, clarity, and an operational direction. In particular, it is difficult to translate the general concerns of sustainability in a manner useful to a task such as ecosystem management. This paper takes a long-term, systems view to construct an integrative approach to sustainability. This approach is more cognisant of ecological realities than the notion of sustainable development as presently construed. Extending the principles thus identified; a checklist of questions to guide considerations in ecosystem management at a more practical level is then constructed. Two examples from resource and environmental management in Australia ? fisheries and the conservation of terrestrial species (particularly the Koala . Phascolarctos cinereus) ? are analysed to support the discussion.

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Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development: with deep roots in forestry towards a "whole institution approach" in sustainability

Scientific Bulletin of UNFU ◽

10.36930/40291004 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (10) ◽

pp. 25-29

Author(s):

Wilhelm-Günther Vahrson ◽

Peter Spathelf

Keyword(s):

Applied Sciences ◽

Sustainable Development ◽

Ecosystem Management ◽

Human Life ◽

Further Education ◽

Sustainable Rural Development ◽

Deep Roots ◽

Early 19Th Century ◽

University Of Applied Sciences ◽

Study Programs

Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) is a University of Applied Sciences in Brandenburg and one of Germany's greenest universities with 4 faculties and a unique profile. The basic principle of HNEE is sustainability, anchored in the mission statement, 'Mit der Natur für den Menschen' (With nature for mankind), and research is focused in the three areas: Sustainable rural development; Sustainable production and use of natural products, and Sustainable management of limited resources. HNEE provides several innovative study programs, such as Forestry, Organic Farming, Wood Technology, International Forest Ecosystem Management on Bachelor level. On Master level the study programs are Regional Management, Global Change Management, Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Forest Information Technology, a double-degree program together with Warsaw University of Life Sciences. Furthermore, HNEE's portfolio is complemented with further education Master programs such as Strategic Sustainability Management. The Higher Education Institution at Eberswalde has a long history going back to the early 19th century when it was a Faculty of the Berlin University. During the Cold War the Faculty was closed due to political reasons. After German reunification, among others a University of Applied Sciences was founded, with focus on practical application. The current situation of HNEE is described emphasizing the so-called 'Whole Institution Approach', i.e. sustainability is seen as an integrative concept for human life and economic development. The Whole Institution Approach encompasses a sound environmental management program aiming at zero emissions. Last but not least, some features of the Faculty of Forest and Environment are outlined. Especially worth to be mentioned is the international focus of the faculty, with four international study programs and many research topics of international relevance. Moreover, the Centre for Economics and Ecosystem Management is attached to the faculty.

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