Sustainable Development
For over two decades has the concept of sustainable management and
development broken into the consciousness of many national and international
policy makers, governments, multinational corporations, academics, economists,
environmentalists, civil organizations, and the public in general. These thoughts
appeared to have intentionally followed the initial attempts of evaluations made
by the international community on the state of humanity: social and
environmental issues present at the time.
In the early 1980s, the Brundtland report “Our Common Future” shed valuable
insights into global economic development and natural resource management
(World Commission on Environment and Development – WCED, 1987). From the
report, two key concepts were drawn: 1. The concept of needs, especially the
needs of the world’s poor to which overriding priority should be given; 2. The
idea of limitations imposed on the state of technology and social organization
on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs. The United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, 1992: Agenda
21) in Rio de Janeiro, also discussed relevant information as to the current
environmental conditions, and socioeconomic problems mainly faced by the third
world, and manifested its worries as to the future of humanity.
development broken into the consciousness of many national and international
policy makers, governments, multinational corporations, academics, economists,
environmentalists, civil organizations, and the public in general. These thoughts
appeared to have intentionally followed the initial attempts of evaluations made
by the international community on the state of humanity: social and
environmental issues present at the time.
In the early 1980s, the Brundtland report “Our Common Future” shed valuable
insights into global economic development and natural resource management
(World Commission on Environment and Development – WCED, 1987). From the
report, two key concepts were drawn: 1. The concept of needs, especially the
needs of the world’s poor to which overriding priority should be given; 2. The
idea of limitations imposed on the state of technology and social organization
on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs. The United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, 1992: Agenda
21) in Rio de Janeiro, also discussed relevant information as to the current
environmental conditions, and socioeconomic problems mainly faced by the third
world, and manifested its worries as to the future of humanity.
But, what do we understand by sustainable development? A number of commonly used definitions of SD: From an
ecological ground, sustainable development refers to the maintenance and equilibrium of the ecosphere, under
anthropogenic pressure, as means of preserving essential ecological processes and biological diversity on earth.
From an economic point of view it is conceived as the continued improvement only measured in terms of capital
accumulation ($$$) and increased economic activity performance through time. However, The Brundtland
Commission proposed the classical phrase:
“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs and welfare of future
generations”
Conservacion Terrazul is in agreement with Sustainable Development and therefore foresees for the protection,
progress, and peace, primarily at the local and national stages, and globally as its end product. The needs
present in Colombia are clearly shown through the lack of information or good use of it, poor institutional capacity
and overlapping of functions, inadequate application of methodologies, lack of initiatives and incentives that
challenge the pragmatic views, need of alternatives of production and conservation. All these are detrimental
factors, which result in the decomposition and loss of social and environmental systems. As a global interest, we
wish that our work, based in local and international experience, functions as a means of reducing environmental,
cultural, and socio-economic crisis in terms of biodiversity loss, marine and terrestrial habitat destruction,
overfishing, deforestation, energy usage (e.g. access to power), starvation, poverty, and inequity. A kind of work
that allows us to seek, recognize, and remedy the weaknesses, and has the ability to strengthen and encourage
good practices in order to achieve SD.
ecological ground, sustainable development refers to the maintenance and equilibrium of the ecosphere, under
anthropogenic pressure, as means of preserving essential ecological processes and biological diversity on earth.
From an economic point of view it is conceived as the continued improvement only measured in terms of capital
accumulation ($$$) and increased economic activity performance through time. However, The Brundtland
Commission proposed the classical phrase:
“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs and welfare of future
generations”
Conservacion Terrazul is in agreement with Sustainable Development and therefore foresees for the protection,
progress, and peace, primarily at the local and national stages, and globally as its end product. The needs
present in Colombia are clearly shown through the lack of information or good use of it, poor institutional capacity
and overlapping of functions, inadequate application of methodologies, lack of initiatives and incentives that
challenge the pragmatic views, need of alternatives of production and conservation. All these are detrimental
factors, which result in the decomposition and loss of social and environmental systems. As a global interest, we
wish that our work, based in local and international experience, functions as a means of reducing environmental,
cultural, and socio-economic crisis in terms of biodiversity loss, marine and terrestrial habitat destruction,
overfishing, deforestation, energy usage (e.g. access to power), starvation, poverty, and inequity. A kind of work
that allows us to seek, recognize, and remedy the weaknesses, and has the ability to strengthen and encourage
good practices in order to achieve SD.
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