Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1
Scientific Research Basis for Sustainable
Development of the Mountain Regions: Main
Concepts and Basic Theories
Mariyana Nikolova
Abstract
European policy toward the mountain regions aims at achieving sustain-
ability by using cohesion and integration policies, as well as multi-sectoral and
regional approaches. Under the conditions of global change, the role of scientific
research in the implementation of these policies acquires additional importance.
Scientific understanding of the theoretical base and the concepts involved would
best serve sustainable development policies in the mountain regions. This chapter
provides an overview of definitions of fundamental concepts, like “sustainabil-
ity” and “sustainable development,” “multidisciplinarity,” “interdisciplinarity,” and
“transdisciplinarity.” Having in mind that the diversity and complexity are typical
characteristics of mountain areas, both socially and environmentally, the chapter
discusses advantages and drawbacks of the implementation of the DPSIR model
and the concepts of “multidisciplinary,” “interdisciplinary,” and “transdisciplinary.”
This analysis is expected to support the following conclusions: (1) Sustainable
development policies must be grounded in the basic concepts of economic the-
ory, including “throughput,” instead of “utility.” (2) Mountain research necessitates
transdisciplinary approaches.
Keywords
Sustainable development
·
Mountains
·
Global change
1.1 Introduction
Thirty-five years after adoption of the idea of sustainability by IUCN, the
Millennium Assessment (2005) provides evidences that the human capacity to
destroy life-support systems grows and the rates of human transformations of the
earth are increasing. Current relationships between humans and biosphere have
reached a critical state without analog in the past centuries. The earth's capacity
to provide resources and to support ecosystem services and human well-being is
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