Achieving Sustainability: Exploring Links Between Sustainability Indicators and Public Involvement for Rural Communities

Abstract

In recent years, focus on community sustainability has intensified at regional and urban government levels. However, the holistic concept of sustainability is not well understood or monitored at the local planning level. Sustainability indicators provide a tool for identifying and measuring progress toward achieving sustainability related to community economic, social, and environmental conditions. Methodologies for sustainability indicator construction are currently being proposed, tested and refined. Increasing recognition is being given to the importance of “stakeholder” involvement in sustainability indicator development. This paper examines research focusing on sustainability indicator development for application in rural communities and adopts the position that community-based sustainability indicators can significantly benefit from including principles and practices of effective stakeholder involvement. The paper concludes with a discussion on the merits of the identified approaches and suggests a framework for application and further research.