MUTUAL
SUPPORT
OF
GOALS
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MUTUALSUPPORT OF GOALS |
| Last modified August 25, 2002 | ||
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The grassland of Palliser's Country can be thought of as a spectacular painting, supported by a large tripod. The legs of the tripod are economic strength, social stability, and ecological integrity. Each of the three components has specific requirements, and brings certain assets to the region. People, our economy, and the landscape clearly influence each other.
In the past, initiatives have had less impact than was expected because they focussed on just one of the three components. For example, agricultural programs have sometimes ignored the impact on the environment, with negative long-term consequences. Similarly, some environmental groups give the impression that the current residents are disposable, and a buy-out package is all that is needed.
This integrated approach to conservation has strong support internationally. In 1987, Gro Brundtland's World Commission on Environment and Development wrote in Our Common Future that economic strength must be achieved at the same time as ecological goals. Five years later, the Rio Earth Summit broadened our perspective to include social stability. Representatives of many nations recognized that the economy was only one social goal, and that many others were also significant. That part of Agenda 21 dealing with land management stated:
The interdependence of the social, economic and ecological goals is illustrated in the following diagram. Perhaps you can offer additional examples that can be placed in the various sectors.
"The objective is to see that land is used in ways that provide the greatest sustainable benefits. The way to minimize conflicts and make the most efficient trade-offs and appropriate choices is to link social and economic development with environmental protection and enhancement. We also have to account for protected areas, private property rights, and the rights of indigenous people and the local communities."
From: Keating, Michael (1993) The Earth Summit's Agenda for Change ; Centre for Our Common Future, Geneva, Switzerland, 70 pp.
More discussion of social goals, and relevant resources.
More discussion of economic goals, and relevant resources.
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