Ecologically Sustainable Development: AN OXYMORON?
by Graeme Inglis
A recent article by Ludwig in the prestigious journal Science
argued that we should distrust claims of ecological sustainability
on the basis that it offers no more to managers of natural resources than
past ill-defined policy objectives, such as maximum sustainable yield,
which failed to prevent the exhaustion of supposedly renewable resources.
Central to the criticisms in that paper was the lack of any clear definition
of what "sustainability" means in practice. As it is currently
used in Australia, ESD incorporates amorphous dimensions of intergenerational
equity, protection of ecological systems, economic progress and global
obligations (see National ESD Strategy - Commonwealth Government of Australia
1992) which make it something of a moving target to those of us responsible
for implementing it. (Is the concept itself sustainable?).
As the CRC for the ESD of the GBR, the programs and activities done
by this Centre are inextricably linked to the pursuit of ecologically
sustainable development in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
An understanding of the diversity of views within the Centre on what this
central concept means in practice is important for the development of
common goals and objectives for the CRC's activities.
In December 1994, CRC Reef News made a call for individuals and
member organisations of the CRC to contribute items outlining their personal
perspectives on ESD and its application to the Great Barrier Reef.
This challenge has now been taken up by Claudia Ludescher, an Honours
student within the Department of Tropical Environment Studies & Geography
at James Cook University.
Claudia's report 'Perceived meanings of 'ecologically sustainable
development' within the CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd' is now available
from the CRC secretariate.
REFERENCE:
Ludwig, D., R. Hilborn & C. Walters 1993. Uncertainty, resource exploitation
and conservation: lessons from history. Science 260: 17,
36.
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