CREATING INSTITUTIONS TO ENSURE SUSTAINABLE USE OF RESOURCES

The foundation for a sustainable future is the continuance of ecologic al processes and functions across landscapes dominated by human activi ty whether hunter-gathering, agriculture, pastoralism, suburban living or wilderness recreation. Actions to sustain ecological systems, flow s and functions must be integrated across regional landscapes. Such re gions encompass natural areas, human living places and a mosaic of oth er land uses. No matter where on the globe, future sustainability will depend on the system of resource governance that mediates the relatio nship between the society and the economy on one hand, and continuance of ecosystem functional processes on the other. Methods need to be de veloped that recognise and account for the scales of influence that in terconnected social and ecosystem functional elements have on one anot her. It will then be possible to demonstrate how ecosystem functional capacity might dictate resource governance. Real applications of this thesis will include urbanisation policies, urban infrastructure and pl anning and more thoughtfully integrated development aid programs. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.