PRINCIPLE SEVEN
Maintain and, if possible, enhance the
quality of the environment
 A sustainable community sees itself as existing within a physical
environment and natural ecosystem and tries to find ways to co-exist
with that environment. It does its part by avoiding unnecessary
degradation of the air, oceans, fresh water, and other natural
systems. It tries to replace detrimental practices with those that
allow ecosystems to continuously renew themselves. In some cases,
this means simply protecting what is already there by finding ways to
redirect human activities and development into less sensitive areas.
But a community may need to take action to reclaim, restore, or
rehabilitate an already-damaged ecosystem such as a nearby wetland.
PRINCIPLES
|
7.1 |
Environmental protection is an integral
part of development
In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental
protection shall constitute an integral part of the
development process and cannot be considered in isolation
from it. |
|
7.2 |
Environmental impact assessments are
essential
Environmental impact assessments, shall be undertaken for
proposed activities that are likely to have a significant
adverse impact on the environment and are subject to a
decision of a competent national authority. |
|
7.3 |
Provide timely information and assistance
for environmental issues
Land owners shall provide prior and timely notification and
relevant information to others potentially affected on
activities that may have a significant adverse transboundary
environmental effect, and shall consult with them at an early
stage and in good faith. |
| 7.4 |
Places that are environmentally
vulnerable shall be given priority
The special situation and needs of places most
environmentally vulnerable, shall be given special priority.
Actions in the field of environment and development should
also address the interests and needs of all. |
|
7.5 |
Environmental disputes should be resolved
peacefully
Resolution for all environmental disputes should be done
peacefully, and by appropriate means. |
|
7.6 |
Authorities should promote
internalization of environmental costs
Authorities should endeavor to promote the internalization of
environmental costs and the use of economic instruments,
taking into account the approach that the polluter should, in
principle, bear the cost of pollution, with due regard to the
public interest and without distorting international trade
and investment. |
|
7.7 |
Appropriate food sources, clean water and
space to live are critical to natural systems
An animal's habitat includes food, water, shelter and space
in an arrangement appropriate to the animal's needs is
imperative for sustainable design. If any of the components
of habitat is missing or is affected significantly so that
the arrangement for the individual animal or population of
animals is no longer suitable, there will be an impact. The
impact will not necessarily be catastrophic, but can be.
Native plants provide a valuable source of food for wildlife.
|
|
7.8 |
Provisions for wildlife should be
promoted and encouraged
There are a great many additional limiting factors beyond
those of suitable food, water, shelter and space. For
example, disease, predation, pollution, accidents and
climatic conditions are among other factors which can have
impact. All things are interrelated. When we look at a
biological community, we find interrelationships and
interdependencies between plants and plants, plants and
animals, as well as animals and animals. These
interrelationships and interdependencies are important.
|
|
7.9 |
Habitat and Natural Resource Areas should
be identified, preserved and restored as valued assets
Natural resources such as wetlands, flood plains, recharge
zones, riparian areas, open space, and native habitats should
be identified, preserved and restored as valued assets for
flood protection, water quality improvement, groundwater
recharge, habitat, and overall long-term water resource
sustainability. |
|
7.10 |
A continuous system of greenbelt/wildlife
corridors should be developed
Regions should be bounded by and provide a continuous system
of greenbelt/wildlife corridors to be determined by natural
conditions. |
|
7.11 |
Catchment areas should be incorporated in
ways that serve to recharge groundwater, reduce runoff,
improve water quality and decrease flooding
Water holding areas such as creek beds, recessed athletic
fields, ponds, cisterns, and other features that serve to
recharge groundwater, reduce runoff, improve water quality
and decrease flooding should be incorporated into the urban
landscape. |
|
7.12 |
All aspects of landscaping should be
designed in ways that reduce water demand, retain runoff,
decrease flooding, recharge ground
All aspects of landscaping from the selection of plants to
soil preparation and the installation of irrigation systems
should be designed to reduce water demand, retain runoff,
decrease flooding, and recharge groundwater. Communities
should provide for the efficient use of water through the use
of natural drainage, drought tolerant landscaping and
recycling. Wherever possible, the natural terrain, drainage
and vegetation of the community should be preserved with
superior examples contained within parks or greenbelts. |
|
7.13 |
Permeable surfaces should be used for
hardscape
Permeable surfaces should be used for hardscape. Impervious
surfaces such as driveways, streets, and parking lots should
be minimized so that land is available to absorb storm water,
reduce polluted urban runoff, recharge groundwater and reduce
flooding. |
|
7.14 |
Community design should maximize the use
of recycled water for appropriate applications
Community design should maximize the use of recycled water
for appropriate applications including outdoor irrigation,
toilet flushing, and commercial and industrial processes.
Purple pipe should be installed in all new construction and
remodeled buildings in anticipation of the future
availability of recycled water. Dual plumbing that allows
graywater from showers, sinks and washers to be reused for
landscape irrigation should be included in the infrastructure
of new development. |
|
7.15 |
Efforts should be taken to help conserve
natural resources
Conservation of natural resources is the wise use of the
earth's resources by humanity and refers to the management of
such valuable natural resources as timber, fish, game,
topsoil, pastureland, and minerals, and also to the
preservation of forests, wildlife, parkland, wilderness, and
watershed areas. Urban water conservation technologies such
as low-flow toilets, efficient clothes washers, and more
efficient water-using industrial equipment should be
incorporated in all new construction and retrofitted in
remodeled buildings. |
|
7.16 |
Efforts should be taken to promote good
energy management and improve efficiency
Energy efficiency has proved to be a cost-effective strategy
for building economies without necessarily growing energy
consumption. Making homes, vehicles, and businesses more
energy efficient is seen as a largely untapped solution to
addressing global warming and energy security. The street
orientation, the placement of buildings and the use of
shading should contribute to the energy efficiency of the
community. |
|
7.17 |
An Integrated Pest Management approach
should be used
Integrated Pest Management is an effective and
environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that
relies on a combination of common-sense practices. IPM
programs use current, comprehensive information on the life
cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment.
takes advantage of all appropriate pest management options
including, but not limited to, the judicious use of
pesticides. |
|
7.18 |
Science-based best management practices
(BMPs) should be used for nutrient management
Science-based best management practices (BMPs) should be used
to ensure fertilizer is applied at the right rate, right time
and right place. BMPs should be designed to ensure plants get
the nutrients they need while minimizing nutrient losses to
the environment. |
Principles of Sustainability
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| V
| VI
| VII
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