This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed proceedings of the International Conference on Environmental Governance held in Makassar, Indonesia. The 67 full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 212 submissions. The papers reflect the conference sessions as follows: ICT and Environmental Sustainability, Electronic Environmental Monitoring, E-Government for Environmental System, Environmental law and politics, Sustainable future for human security, Disaster risk reduction, Climate change and adaptive capacity, Islamic environmental thought, Socio-environmental conflicts, Global environmental change, Sustainable development goals (SDGs), Ocean policy and governance, Rural development and planning, Forest governance and conservation, Water and soil conservation, Business and CSR, and Urban vulnerability and resilience.

This book provides an analysis of nature satisfaction, nature relatedness, and the motivations for using urban green spaces. It explores the use of spaces such as parks, waterfronts, wooded areas, and fields among different life course phases and socio-economic classes. Through a detailed analysis of primary data from two major German cities, Cologne and Hamburg, the book examines the availability, use, and satisfaction with urban green spaces and provides insights into the predictors of nature satisfaction in an urban context. The book also combines the subjective assessments of the respondents with objective data. It considers the varying reliance on urban green spaces due to the availability of private green spaces and individual nature relatedness. It provides insights on the needs of different population groups in cities, providing a scientific basis for improving or implementing green space planning approaches. This book will be of interest to researchers in sociology, urban studies, public health, environmental studies, and human geography.

The provision of urban parks, recreation grounds and other green spaces can make a vital contribution to the quality of urban life and to the achievement of a range of Government objectives in relation to improved health, sustainable neighbourhood renewal and community cohesion, especially in more deprived areas. This NAO report examines the effectiveness of national policy initiatives on green space issues, focusing on progress made to assess the quality of urban green spaces, to improve financial management procedures, and to protect and enhance provision through the planning system. Overall, the report finds that the decline in quality of urban green spaces has been halted in most areas, with signs of recovery in many places. Greater priority for green space investment and new sources of funds from central government and the lottery have enabled local authorities and other public bodies, working in partnership with local communities, to bring about the refurbishment and renewal of many green spaces. However, surveys show that there is a wide variation between urban local authorities, and improvements need to be in relation to the sharing and application of good practice on green space management.

The long-term development of public green spaces such as parks, public gardens, and recreation grounds in London during the twentieth century is a curiously neglected subject, despite the fact that various kinds of green spaces cover huge areas in cities in the UK today. This book explores how and why public green spaces have been created and used in London, and what actors have been involved in their evolution, during the course of the twentieth century. Building on case studies of the contemporary boroughs of Camden and Southwark and making use of a wealth of archival material, the author takes us through the planning and creation stages, to the intended (and actual) uses and ongoing management of the spaces. By highlighting the rise and fall of municipal authorities and the impact of neo-liberalism after the 1970s, the book also deepens our understanding of how London has been governed, planned and ruled during the twentieth century. It makes a crucial contribution to academic as well as political discourse on the history and present role of green space in sustainable cities.

Post-industrial urban spaces typically include abandoned factories, disused rail lines, old pits and quarries, and de-commissioned landfills. In these places, different visions compete for dominance with respect to current and future land uses. Neighbours often view such urban greenspace as polluted, unkempt and weedy, harbouring undesirable biophysical features and people. These are spaces that often become the focus of some form of revitalization, reinvestment and restoration. From the perspective of civic authorities and urban planners, transforming post-industrial landscapes into disciplined and tended greenspace creates the urban conditions and signals of popular contemporary taste that attract investors, gentrifiers, and tourists. But post-industrial spaces are also places where unique and unpredictable human and ecological associations can emerge spontaneously. Such places may contain considerable ecological integrity and biodiversity and host human populations who find a home and respite in such ecologies. They also tell stories of an industrial and urban past that should be acknowledged, understood and (if suitable) celebrated. This volume explores the environmental justice and injustice dimensions of emerging urban post-industrial landscapes, including the ecological politics, cultural representations and aesthetics of these spaces. This bookw as published as a special issue of Local Environment.

The authors of this volume provide a window into what influences the quality of life, why people live longer, and why we are relatively better off compared to decades ago. While the potential ways of measuring life quality are abundant, understanding what causes improvement requires careful study and consideration. This volume provides useful insight into these challenges and helps to highlight a clear and important separation between wellbeing and standard of living, both relevant to assessing the quality of life. Standard of living refers to the material welfare of a group. Wellbeing, on the other hand, encapsulates harder-to-measure subjective preferences. Together they help us to understand the quality of life of certain groups at specific times, and in specific communities.

Drawing the attention of tourists to different destinations around the world assists in the overall economic health of the targeted region by increasing revenue and attracting investment opportunities, as well as increasing cultural awareness of the area’s population. Strategic Branding Methodologies and Theory for Tourist Attraction investigates international perspectives and promotional strategies in the topic area of place branding. Highlighting theoretical concepts and marketing techniques being utilized in the endorsement of various destinations, regions, and cities around the world, this publication is a pivotal reference source for researchers, practitioners, policy makers, students, and professionals.