Sustainable Rural Changes

During the changes in rural areas I mentioned I would talk about ‘sustainable rural changes’ in a later post… and here is that post!!! To make changes sustainable means to protect the resources, maintain the economy and not let the standard of life suffer for the present residents or any future residents. As mentioned in the blog post about second homes, it is very difficult to make sure every aspect of rural change is sustainable.

Below are some approaches which help towards achieving more sustainability in MEDCs:

•  Local people can form co-operatives to provide services. A co-operative is a business owned and run by its members; everyone has a say in how the business is run and all share equally in the profits. There are currently over 5400 independent co-operatives within the UK. These aren’t necessarily just the local post office or shop either - Sheffield Renewables, for example, were set up to generate green power and profit from the river running through the city. Another example is Dulas, a fast growing worker owned green technology business in Wales. However, if you want a classic example of a local shop becoming a co-operative, the BBC Bitesize points to Berrynarbor, Ilfracombe. The village has a local community shop almost half the villagers invested in, which even includes the use of a computer and space to stop for a coffee.
• The second approach to achieve sustainability in MEDCs is to get help from the government. The Environmental Stewardship Scheme, run by DEFRA is one example. This provides funding to farmers (and other land managers) to improve the landscape, promote public access and conserve wildlife. There are four stages to this scheme: Entry Level Stewardship, Organic Entry Level Stewardship, Uplands Entry Level Stewardship and Higher Level Stewardship.
• For really deprived areas of the UK, the EU can fund regions through funds such as the European Regional Development Fund. However much money the EU puts in, the British government has to match the amount. In the blog post on second homes I mentioned Cornwall and how it is one of the poorest places in Britain with incomes 25% below average. According to the Guardian, Cornwall is the only corner of the UK to receive this aid from the EU.
•  National Parks in the UK are one of the best places to see sustainability approaches in action. They are also great places to aid students understanding the conflicts between recreation and conservation.  Conflicts can be managed by clear signage for tourists, restrictions on developing land and restrictions on traffic and park and ride schemes in some areas. The Sustainable Development Fund from DEFRA and the Welsh government have encouraged individuals and communities to find sustainable ways of living and working, while also enhancing the natural environment around them. Since the programme began Exmoor Sustainable Development Fund has awarded nearly £1.9million to more than 100 projects, while the Snowdonia National Park Authority gives out £200 000 per annum. 

Sustainable development in LEDCs:

There are four key ways of helping rural areas in LEDCs become more sustainable:

• By improving the rural economy (including generating income within the area). The aim is that this will result in less rural-urban migration and the downward spiral associated with that.
• By increasing rural food production. This needs to be done in a way to protect the environment and land for future generations to continue using, but should improve the standard of life for current residents by providing more food to eat and to sell to the towns.
• By improving the rural standards of living. The beginning point for this is to ensure there is clean drinking water and safe sewerage disposal for everyone and to give the local population access to education and health care. These are basic things which would improve the standard of life for current residents as well as generations to come. Education will also help develop other parts of sustainability in rural areas as the locals learn more about their environments.
• By improving standards of communication to help rural people keep in touch with developments. Better access and links to towns allows exchange of information, goods and products, such as the food mentioned above.

Many charities work within LEDCs to help rural communities become more sustainable. Some work alongside communities, teaching organic farming methods to boost crops and increase yields. Others such as ‘The Water Project’ provide access to safe water via pumps, which in turn improves health, education, hunger and can also break the cycle of poverty. Other charities help to develop self-sufficiency within the community, so that when the organisation goes, the community can continue to thrive. Some charities boost confidence and community spirit, so that communities help themselves to prosper.

References

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/rural_environments/changes_rural_areas_ledcs_rev2.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/rural_environments/changes_rural_areas_medcs_rev2.shtml

http://www.theecologist.org/campaigning/culture_change/1328920/how_to_start_a_cooperative_in_five_steps.html

http://www.eryri-npa.gov.uk/park-authority/cae-introduction

http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/communities/sustainable-exmoor

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/nov/18/ruralaffairs.immigrationpolicy

http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/lookingafter/sustainable-development.htm

http://thewaterproject.org/why-water.php