 | Ecocultures: Blueprints for Sustainable Communities Subjects: Environment & Agriculture; Global Development; Environment and Sustainability; Geography; Social Sciences; Urban Studies; Agriculture & Environmental Sciences; Culture & Development; Environment & the Global South; Sustainable Development; Environmental Studies; Environmental Management; Environment & Resources; Biodiversity & Conservation; Urban Studies; Plant & Animal Ecology; Human Geography; Anthropology - Soc Sci; Agriculture; Environmental Sciences; Agriculture and Food; Biodiversity; Climate Change; Environmental Impact Assessment; Resource Management - Environmental Studies; Environmental Geography; Environmental Anthropology; Indigenous Peoples; Social & Cultural Anthropology; The world faces a 'perfect storm' of social and ecological stresses, including climate change, habitat loss, resource degradation and social, economic and cultural change. In order to cope with these, communities are struggling to transition to sustainable ways of living that improve well-being and increase resilience. This book demonstrates how communities in both developed and developing countries are already taking action to maintain or build resilient and sustainable lifestyles. These communities, here designated as 'Ecocultures', are exemplars of the art and science of sustainable living. Though they form a diverse group, they organise themselves around several common organising principles including an ethic of care for nature, a respect for community, high ecological knowledge, and a desire to maintain and improve personal and social wellbeing. Case studies from both developed and developing countries including Australia, Brazil, Finland, Greenland, India, Indonesia, South Africa, UK and USA, show how, based on these principles, communities have been able to increase social, ecological and personal wellbeing and resilience. They also address how other more mainstream communities are beginning to transition to more sustainable, resilient alternatives. Some examples also illustrate the decline of ecocultures in the face of economic pressures, globalisation and climate change. Theoretical chapters examine the barriers and bridges to wider application of these examples. Overall, the volume describes how ecocultures can provide the global community with important lessons for a wider transition to sustainability and will show how we can redefine our personal and collective futures around these principles. Steffen Böhm isnbsp;Director of the Essex Sustainability Institute and Professornbsp;in Management and Sustainability atnbsp;the University of Essex, Colchester, UK.nbsp; Zareen Pervez Bharucha is Senior Research Officer in the Department of Sociology, University of Essex and a member of thenbsp;Essex Sustainabilitynbsp;Institute.nbsp; Jules Pretty isnbsp;Professor of Environment and Society and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of thenbsp;University of Essex. |
