ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses on the theoretical and methodological perspectives of the human scale development (HSD) proposal resonating with the principles and practices of local sustainability. The connections between environmentally sustainable practices and human needs-enhancing strategies are not always made explicit in the goals and practices of sustainable communities. The HSD methodology by Inez Aponte could support an increased stress on grassroots participation in the eco-municipality movement. This analysis would allow communities to identify the specific conditions to support a better articulation of the effectiveness of projects in delivering a combined goal of sustainability and human wellbeing and provide evidence to influence policy-makers. The ecovillages aspire to high levels of self-sufficiency through an understanding of human activities as part of a cyclical process, where production and consumption do not generate waste. Finally it analyses the satisfiers in terms of their necessary presence and the ways of Interacting that support human needs actualisation and environmental sustainability.
