ABSTRACT
We have seen that our environmental management planning and decision-making methods and processes virtually all reflect a fatalistic belief – that the built and natural environments are inevitably in a zero sum relationship. This has led to the use of tradeoffs for externalizing conflict away from development planning and control systems. We cannot predict negative impacts in a complex environmental and social system, but we can find opportunities to take direct action to increase the urban ecology. We cannot eliminate poverty in a market system entirely, but we can give everyone a higher quality of life. Change will not come from the market and political arenas simply because it would be rational, however. Our discussion has shown that there is a vacuum created by government and industry structures. It would appear that only the community sector can catalyse change is the community. NGOs could begin by creating exemplars of net Positive Development, in partnership with government and industry. This chapter provides some guidance to this process. Some principles, concepts, procedures and criteria for a more positive community-based, opportunity-creating approach have been identified. We have looked at:
Eco-solutions using natural systems that can increase both the ecological base and public estate
Environmental planning, design and management methods and tools that can assist in the transition from negative to positive actions
Structural principles and organizational forms that planning for sustainability and eco-governance would entail
