Planning Malaysia An Urban and Regional Planning Journal of Malaysia
1-Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning
-
Upload
arvee-villamor -
Category
Documents
-
view
554 -
download
6
description
Transcript of 1-Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning
-
Introduction to
Urban and Regional Planning
PLNING 342
AR 44 LB 207
Second Semester, SY 2012-2013
-
Review
Humans in their ecological setting
Ekistics: the science of human settlements
-
The Environment
The environment is that part of the world that surrounds us
Modern societies typically refer to the environment as the resource; a platform for human activity but not the place where we live
-
Essence of the Ecological Framework
An obligatory interdependence between living organisms and their
physical and biological environment
This web of interdependence and of mutuality is referred to as an
ecosystem
-
Thus, an Ecosystem consists of the
Bounded system of dynamic interdependent relationships between living organisms and their physical and biological environment
-
The quest for food is the central organizing principle of life within every ecosystem
-
Some signs which indicate that ecosystems are threatened
Environmental degradation
Biodiversity loss Deforestation Social and economic systems breakdown
Resulting in loss of
resilience (refers to the ability to absorb shock and disturbances)
-
There are thresholds at which the levels of stress will lead to the disruption of the system
One concept used to understand these critical limits and thresholds is carrying capacity, which assumes that:
there are finite or limited number of people who can be supported without degrading the natural environment and social, economic and cultural systems and, as such, is an indirect measure of the maximum level of stress that the ecosystem can maintain
Source: Barbier, Burgess and Folke, 1994
-
Carrying Capacity Concept
Premise
Human life depends on healthy ecosystems that supply life-sustaining
resources and absorb wastes
But
Current growth and consumption
patterns put increasing stress on
ecosystems
-
Precautionary Principle
Recognizes that
the outcomes of
development are
often uncertain and
taking decisions
which minimize the
adverse outcomes
which may arise
-
Where our understanding of
the likely consequences of
human interventions in the
natural environment is limited
and there are treats of serious
or irreversible damage to
natural systems and
processes, there is a
premium on taking a cautious and conservative approach to development
(Barbier, Burgess and Folke 1994:172)
-
Two key concepts underlie our relationship with the ecosystem
Stewardship concept not exceeding the carrying capacity of nature
Deep ecology aspect
not allowing human
excesses to destroy the
integrity of creation