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19 pages, 3748 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Measurement of Social Cohesion at Province Level in Poland Using Metric and Interval-Valued Data

by Marek Walesiak and Grażyna Dehnel

Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7664; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187664 - 16 Sep 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3360

The notion of social cohesion is increasingly used in the political, economic and academic debate. Due to its multidimensional, the assessment of social cohesion is not easy, especially if it is conducted at a lower than national level of aggregation. The aim of [...] Read more.

The notion of social cohesion is increasingly used in the political, economic and academic debate. Due to its multidimensional, the assessment of social cohesion is not easy, especially if it is conducted at a lower than national level of aggregation. The aim of the study is to assess social cohesion in provinces of Poland in 2018 using the hybrid approach involving multidimensional scaling and linear ordering based on an aggregate measure. This type of study is usually conducted using classic metric data. However, the traditional approach does not account for the variation between lower level units (i.e., districts). The authors propose a methodology which makes this possible. Additionally the results of assessment of the multidimensional phenomenon can be presented in a two-dimensional space. Classic metric data and symbolic interval-valued data (three data types: min-max, 1st decile and 9th decile, 2nd decile and 8th decile) are jointly represented in a single diagram. The consistency of the research method ensures comparability of results of linear ordering. Two criteria were used in the comparative analysis of four rankings of social cohesion. The results of the study clearly showed that the current level of social cohesion at the provinces level is geographically and historically dependent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Development)

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20 pages, 362 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Problems of Aggregation of Sustainable Development Indicators at the Regional Level

by Ludmila Petkovová, David Hartman and Tomáš Pavelka

Sustainability 2020, 12(17), 7156; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12177156 - 2 Sep 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2714

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to evaluate the possibilities of evaluating sustainable development in regions based on the 2030 Agenda, and in particular to identify issues that need more attention. Our interest is focused on issues with compiling CIs for a small [...] Read more.

The aim of the paper is to evaluate the possibilities of evaluating sustainable development in regions based on the 2030 Agenda, and in particular to identify issues that need more attention. Our interest is focused on issues with compiling CIs for a small number of regions with limited available data. The article offers a critical discussion of various methods of aggregation, which are derived from the respective level of compensability, robustness, and sensitivity of the results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Development)

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26 pages, 1740 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Right to Not Catch Up—Transitioning European Territorial Cohesion towards Spatial Justice for Sustainability

by Barbara Demeterova, Tatjana Fischer and Jürgen Schmude

Sustainability 2020, 12(11), 4797; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114797 - 11 Jun 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3997

Abstract

Recent EU environmental and spatial policies notably strive towards the development paradigm of green growth and economic competitiveness. However, operationalizing spatial policies through growth-driven GDP logics promotes an unequal race towards narrowly defined developmental ‘success’, while perpetuating social, economic and environmental inequalities. Meanwhile, [...] Read more.

Recent EU environmental and spatial policies notably strive towards the development paradigm of green growth and economic competitiveness. However, operationalizing spatial policies through growth-driven GDP logics promotes an unequal race towards narrowly defined developmental ‘success’, while perpetuating social, economic and environmental inequalities. Meanwhile, the EU’s territorial cohesion approach has remained a conceptual ‘black box’, its apparent inadequacy for notably mitigating territorial disparities leading to renewed questions about territorial policy’s relevance, delivery and evaluation. In this paper, we add to calls for redesigning territorial cohesion by proposing a turn towards spatial justice for territorial sustainability. Pointing out the need to refocus on regional capabilities and alternative development trajectories, we argue that the ‘right to not catch up’ enables a more locally meaningful and globally sustainable development. Drawing from regional statistics, policy analyses and an empirical case study of three European Territorial Cooperation programs in the heterogeneous Austrian-Czech-Slovak-Hungarian border region, we illustrate how current EU spatial policy approaches evolve in regional practice and why current policy aims fall short for sustainable transformations. Through interrogating development discourses and their alternatives, we contribute to emerging new perspectives on sustainable territorial development at the European as well as at regional levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Development)

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23 pages, 326 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Managerial Reporting Tools for Social Sustainability: Insights from a Local Government Experience

by Eleonora Cardillo and Maria Cristina Longo

Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3675; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093675 - 2 May 2020

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2846

Abstract

The paper is a country-specific study that explores the potential points of connection between the sustainable territorial development goals and managerial tools in the context of local authorities. In particular, the purpose of this research is to propose a set of features and [...] Read more.

The paper is a country-specific study that explores the potential points of connection between the sustainable territorial development goals and managerial tools in the context of local authorities. In particular, the purpose of this research is to propose a set of features and criteria to evaluate the contribution of accounting documents to the pursuit, development and strengthening of social sustainability. As part of traditional accounting systems, social reporting is essential to support policy makers’ decisions in promoting social sustainability and in evaluating the effects of their choices within the institution and externally towards citizens and various stakeholders. To this end, we present a leading case study of a medium-sized Italian local authority’s accounting system in which the contributions and limits of managerial tools to social reporting are analyzed. The case study allows us to have a deeper understanding of social reporting and to get insights about issues that matter to social sustainability assessment in public administration. Since the reporting tools comply with international accounting standards, the case study offers interesting food for thought in the international debate on the assessment of sustainability in public organizations. The results identify the areas of complementarity and critical issues between social reporting and traditional accounting systems. Therefore, they enhance our knowledge about the role of public accounting system in supporting sustainable territorial development policies and programs through managerial tools’ adoption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Development)

18 pages, 3592 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Probing Influence Factors of Implementation Patterns for Sustainable Land Consolidation: Insights from Seventeen Years of Practice in Jiangsu Province, China

by Xiaoping Ge, Feng Zhu, Yongjun Yang, Gangjun Liu and Fu Chen

Sustainability 2020, 12(9), 3576; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093576 - 28 Apr 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2732

Abstract

Land consolidation is a key measure in the implementation of agricultural sustainability and has a strategic importance in farmland fragmentation reduction and rural revitalization. In order to understand spatiotemporal patterns of land consolidation implementation and their influences at a large scale, a comprehensive [...] Read more.

Land consolidation is a key measure in the implementation of agricultural sustainability and has a strategic importance in farmland fragmentation reduction and rural revitalization. In order to understand spatiotemporal patterns of land consolidation implementation and their influences at a large scale, a comprehensive evaluation of 1046 land consolidation projects was conducted in Jiangsu Province, China. The results of this study showed that the construction scale (CS) and investment amount (IA) rose in waves in Jiangsu province during the period 2001–2017, while the newly increased farmland rate (NIFR) continued to decline. Spatial patterns of land consolidation aggregated, whereas the scale and the kernel density of the newly increased farmland area (NIFA) was differentiated in different time periods. In addition, the regional differentiation was significant. The gravity center of CS, IA, and NIFA moved with an overall trend from South Jiangsu to North Jiangsu, and finally stopped at the Li-Xia River plain area in North Jiangsu. The key factors that promoted land consolidation included natural farmland quality and the proportion of the primary industry production in GDP. The potential of NIFA, the farmland production amount, and the income of the financial transferring payment were also important factors. Spatial patterns were initially influenced by natural conditions and were later influenced more significantly by economic and policy conditions. In the future, differentiated land consolidation policy oriented by public involvement should be formulated to improve new frameworks of system implementation, as well as to provide evidence for spatial configuration, district cooperation, policy adjustment, and the systematic improvement of sustainable land consolidation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Development)

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22 pages, 3192 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Scenarios of Sustainable Fishing in the Zapatosa Marsh (Colombia) Simulated with a System Dynamics Model

by Andres Camilo Castaño-Barreto, Carlos Alberto Jaramillo-Cruz, Raul Andres Molina Benavides and Alberto Stanislao Atzori

Sustainability 2020, 12(8), 3458; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12083458 - 23 Apr 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3426

Abstract

The Zapatosa marsh (ciénaga de la Zapatosa) is located in the Department of Cesar in Colombia. In 2018, the muddy complex of Zapatosa was declared a Ramsar wetland, for this reason, it is necessary to develop management strategies for the marsh [...] Read more.

The Zapatosa marsh (ciénaga de la Zapatosa) is located in the Department of Cesar in Colombia. In 2018, the muddy complex of Zapatosa was declared a Ramsar wetland, for this reason, it is necessary to develop management strategies for the marsh that allow not only the conservation of the ecosystem. The objective of this work is to use System Dynamics as an evaluation tool for three possible management scenarios of artisanal fishing in the Zapatosa marsh. A qualitative causal diagram and a quantitative Stock and Flow diagrams were designed to describe the dynamics of fish and fishermen populations in the marsh. The initial model setting and parametrization derived from values gathered from different sources of information. The calibration of the model was carried out with reference data on total catch of kilograms of fish and population data from the Department of Cesar. The data obtained through the “Aquaculture and artisanal fisheries survey of the Department of El Cesar” in 2018 were reproduced in the model and then compared with 3 alternative management scenarios. Scenario 1 included strictly applying of the fishing stopover for the species Prochilodus magdalenae and for catfish (Pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum, Pimelodus blochii y Sorubim cuspicaudus). Scenario 2 considered to apply the same prohibitions, but with a payment to fishermen for the care of the swamp at the time of prohibition. In Scenario 3 the fishermen under fishing stop will receive an income of a legal Colombian minimum monthly salary and will be engaged in practices of ecosystem services. Results showed that in some scenarios the economic situation of the fishermen is unable to meet the monthly family expenses in different periods of the year. On the other hand, there is greater economic stability and fish populations when adopting Scenario 3, but it is difficult to achieve in the short or medium term. Scenario 2 shows little recoveries in fish populations and a higher money availability to the local community than in Scenario 3, in certain months, presenting the best short-term management option. The presented model encourages further simulation scenarios of the Zapatosa Marsh. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Development)

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22 pages, 3557 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial and Multicriteria Analysis of Dimension Stones and Crushed Rocks Quarrying in the Context of Sustainable Regional Development: Case Study of Lower Silesia (Poland)

by Jan Blachowski and Anna Buczyńska

Sustainability 2020, 12(7), 3022; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12073022 - 9 Apr 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2799

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze and assess the spatial and temporal trends in distribution of reserves and production of igneous and metamorphic dimension stones and crushed rocks in the Lower Silesia region, which with 90% of total supply is the key source region [...] Read more.

This study aimed to analyze and assess the spatial and temporal trends in distribution of reserves and production of igneous and metamorphic dimension stones and crushed rocks in the Lower Silesia region, which with 90% of total supply is the key source region of these rock raw materials in Poland. The research utilized descriptive statistics to examine temporal variations of production, as well as to determine sufficiency of these resources for four different scenarios and seven main lithological groups of rocks. Spatial statistics in the geographic information system was used to map changes in spatial distribution of production with the density function, as well as to determine areas of highest concentration in the 2010–2018 period. Then, 169 communes in the region were assessed using the multicriteria analytical hierarchy process (AHP) technique to identify local communities prospective for development of this mining sector. Strong, positive correlation (r = 0.645) between year to year production change with annual rate of gross domestic product was determined. Sufficiency of economic reserves was estimated, in four scenarios, as being the lowest for melaphyre and porphyry (25–49 years), and the highest for marble (380–389 years). Reserves of basalt and amphibolite should last for approximately 50 years (32–60 and 36–67 years, respectively), granite for 82 to 110 years, and gabbro and gneiss for over 100 years (78–159 and 76–189 years, respectively). Maps revealed a possible trend of increasing production in quarries located in the central and eastern parts of Lower Silesia, whereas multicriteria analysis allowed for the identification of nine communes with the highest potential for rock raw material quarrying. The practical outcome of this study is a knowledge database for authorities, upon which sustainable management of regional rock raw materials can be based in the context of economic, social, and environmental impacts of their extraction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Development)

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16 pages, 2096 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Portugal 2020: An Effective Policy Platform to Promote Sustainable Territorial Development?

by Eduardo Medeiros

Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 1126; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12031126 - 5 Feb 2020

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 7087

Abstract

This paper explores the implementation of European Union (EU) Cohesion Policy in Portugal during the 2014–2020 programming period (Portugal 2020) and its contribution to promoting sustainable territorial development. It starts with an anatomization of the dominant analytic dimensions of the concept of sustainable [...] Read more.

This paper explores the implementation of European Union (EU) Cohesion Policy in Portugal during the 2014–2020 programming period (Portugal 2020) and its contribution to promoting sustainable territorial development. It starts with an anatomization of the dominant analytic dimensions of the concept of sustainable territorial development. It then examines the approved projects under Portugal 2020 and relates them to the selected five dimensions of territorial sustainable development, which include a circular economy, social environmental awareness, environmental conservation, a global governance sustainability focus, and a global spatial planning sustainability focus. The conclusions are that the Portugal 2020 goals of supporting sustainable territorial development have been, until late 2019, achieved beyond initial expectations in terms of relative allocated funding, and that the renewable energy and circular economy components have not been sufficiently explored, vis-à-vis the sustainable development needs of the country. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Territorial Development)

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