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| URBAN ECOLOGICAL GOVERNANCE: POLICY RESPONSE TO THE PRESSURE OF URBANIZATION |
| LI Yang-fan1, ZHU Xiao-dong1, ZOU Xin-qing2 |
1. School of the Environment, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China;
2. Department of Urban and Resources Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China |
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Abstract With the emergence of the concept of sustainable development,the notion of environment has been moved beyond as simply an additional constraint of an ecological sort on economic growth.Indeed, sustainable development aims at reconciling the pursuit of goals traditionally associated with economic growth with ecological protection.
Irrational urbanization increases the pressures of the urban ecosystem.Urban eco-environmental problems are largely understood as a by-product of industrial development and urbanization in China.Urban eco-environmental development can be characterized by its complexity,dynamism,and diversity.This characterization refers to both inter-urban and intra-urban ecological issues.A complex,dynamic,and diverse urban eco-environment requires substantial governing capacity,and urban governance seems capable of providing it.Governance is a new catchphrase.It differs from traditional forms of government by involving actors representing not only the public sector,but also the private and voluntary sectors.Increasingly,good governance,which is characterized by integration,harmony accountability and participatory mechanisms appropriate to urban ecological realities,needs and wishes,and a proper definition of the role of government agencies,will improve the management of urban ecological resources.
This paper engages in the question of how to provide effective ecological governance to protect the urban eco-environment,and particularly in biodiversity/ecosystem,natural resources/energy and municipal solid waste.Based on the concepts of governance and eco-city,a conceptual framework of the urban ecological governance was designed by the application of environmental Pressure-Status-Response (P-S-R) model.The model first focused on certain urban ecological issues that have been raised with respect to urban ecological pressures in general.Then the unhealthy background of urban ecosystem status caused by ecological pressures was given.Policy response to urban ecological pressures,as well as urban ecological governance,was finally suggested for mitigating the pressures and reconstructing a healthy ecosystem.
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Received: 22 December 2004
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2005, Vol. 20 
