Sustainable Development Projects, Research Paper Example

Sustainable development projects of developing countries has been the topic of several UN and IISD (International Institute of Sustainable Development) conferences in the past decades. The need for guidelines and assessment is imminent in several parts of the world, where economy is booming and the law does not protect environments, interests of stakeholders and people. The below review will provide an analysis of what has been done so far to promote sustainable development and which measures have been introduced on the international level to make investors and stakeholders comply with the regulations.

IISD Project

The IISD’s Bellagio Project (1997) determines sustainability in development as follows: “In general terms, the idea of sustainability is the persistence of certain necessary and desired characteristics of people, their communities and organizations, and the surrounding ecosystem over a very long period of time (indefinitely)” . (p. 8.)

This definition will be the focus of the policy reviews and framework analysis. Bellagio is a project to measure developments’ sustainability over time; its effects on the environment and communities.

How to Create Sustainable Development Projects

There are three different areas of sustainability; economic, environmental and social. Some researchers claim that the synthesis of the three aspects is the right approach to creating sustainable development projects. While the project needs to focus on the economic growth of the area, it needs to provide provisions for the equal distribution of benefits for stakeholders, protection for ecosystems and fulfill the educational and health needs of the people involved, based on democratic guidelines. (Harris, 2000, p. 19.)

Examples of Sustainable Development Projects

In South Africa, the government has realized the potential of growth in the tourism industry. However, tourism developments, when not created according to sustainability guidelines can hurt people, communities and the environment and can have some negative economical effects on the country as well. Therefore, there was a need for introducing policies to protect ecosystems, landscape, natural reserves and distribute the potential benefits equally. It was evident that the improvement of the tourist industry had a great potential for creating new jobs and involving communities in different projects. (SAEP Publication)

The vulnerability of the coastal ecosystems of South Africa has been recognized for years, however, some parts are already damaged due to unsustainable developments. Still there are plenty of opportunities for getting policies in place; creating jobs, scientific research programs and improving the economy by developing the busy ports to make them more sustainable. Waste management, wildlife protection, coastal erosion and marine species protection are among the most important tasks to be handled by a sustainable development policy in South Africa.

The industrial development around the coast and the surrounding towns has created a challenge for ecologists. The excess sewage and waste water production had to be handled, as further development can cause health risks for the population, damage the coast line’s appearance and endanger marine species. As fishing is a prominent industry in the area, the interest of those living of this activity need to be protected through sustainable development. Another question is the permission of building houses around estuaries; the habitat of many rare species.

The recommendations for making developments more sustainable around South Africa’s coasts include protecting the coastline and retain it as a “national asset”. (SAEP Publication) Those using the assets of the coast and make a living from fishing should be provided the right of access to the coast. Rehabilitation of natural habitats and preserving the biodiversity of the area would not only provide a safe environment for species but also provide research opportunities for local universities to study the ecosystems and research different species in their natural environment.

Recommendations for South Africa’s Coastline Protection and Sustainable Development

The Coastal Management Policy Programme’s online publication (2000) clearly highlights the guidelines and policies to be introduced. First, a Coastal awareness program would be introduced to involve communities and communicate visions. The government also finds it important to create links with the public and private sector. The main goals that would make developments more sustainable in the future in South Africa’s coastline are as follows:

1. Protecting the interest of fishermen in the area
2. Promoting the protection of estuaries and building research centers on a sustainable basis, in particular Admiralty Reserve
3. Providing public access to coastal locations and managing it to minimize the effects of incompatible uses. No private access coastal areas would be permitted
4. Traditional and cultural activities would be taken into consideration when building provisions are discussed, the interest of local communities would be preserved.
5. Redressing rights to the use of the coastline which are not in line with sustainability guidelines, such as industries that can affect wildlife and communities, increase pollution and waste levels.
6. Promoting coastal tourism development opportunities ensuring that companies comply with the guidelines and mining, petroleum and natural gas needs to be reviewed and environmentally responsible policies need to be introduced.
7. Providing stakeholders with necessary infrastructure and food safety provisions to reduce the poverty and illnesses in marginalized coastal communities.

Works Cited

IISD (1997) Assessing Sustainable Development: Principles in Practice Web.

Harris, J. (2000) G-DAE Working Paper No. 00-04: Basic Principles of Sustainable Development. Web.

“Sustainable Development in South Africa. Introduction to Basic Concepts” Web.

“White Paper for Sustainable Coastal Development in South Africa” (2000) Web.