The dimensions of sustainability: Ecological fundamentals, paradigmatic models and pathways

With the environmental crisis in the last decades appears the directive ima ge of a sustainable development or the sustainability in its ecological, ec onomic and social dimensions. From the ecological perspective some characte ristics and processes are fundamental for the analysis: the systemic charac ter and complexity of the ecosystems, the myth of a stable ecological equil ibrium, resiliency arid irreversibility, the intrinsic sustainability of ec osystems and the phenomena of global and regional concentration and dispers ion of resources arid wastes. The paradigm of sustainablity can be grouped in three interpretative models: (1) under an analytical vision, (2) a holis tic vision and (3) a nonnative model. The first approach results in the pri nciple of rational resource management with its respective indicators of ca use-state-effect-reaction. The holistic vision, considering the intrinsic u ncertainty of ecosystems, results in the principle of precaution in resourc e management and defines indicators like the carrying capacity. Whilst the nonnative model tries to define objectives and indicators in a complex mana gement situation through a consensus process involving the affected arid in terested groups. It is possible to identify pathways of unsustainability an d sustainability. The environmental sciences provide monitoring instruments , but finally, due to its nonnative character; sustainability is a policy o bjective and therefore is part of a responsibility ethic.