ABSTRACT
In the health resorts of Germany, the empirical effects of the unique natural capital and environment on humans are verified by scientific methods such as medicine, meteorology, and chemistry, and then approved as therapeutic drugs. Natural capital is provided in various forms for the maintenance of health, treatment of diseases, and recovery from fatigue and stress. Natural capital include hot springs, natural gases, and peloid (from the soil), as well as climate and oceans. The categorization of health resorts is defined by the type and quality of natural capital available. Due to their unique characteristics, a system that allows users to select the health resorts that suit their specific needs has been established, enabling them to utilize natural capital effectively for health promotion. Considering the current state of Japan, country with an abundance of natural capital that is considered underutilized, we visited Bad Homburg and six health resorts located in Germany’s Black Forest located in the southwestern part of the country to learn about the current state of their health resorts. All the health resorts we visited were excellent centers certified by the German Spas Association and German Tourism Association. Bad Wildbad and Keidel Mineral-Thermalbad, both thermal health resorts, maintain the provision structure for medical treatment and tourism. Against a background of growing interest in the environment, they utilize the land and natural capital to their advantage by incorporating the elements of trendiness, fun, and excitement to revitalize the local and the health resorts’ communities. Due to the differences in the structure, environment, and systems between the hot springs in Japan and those in Germany, it would not be easy to apply the current state of the German health resorts to similar resorts in Japan. However, Japan is rich in natural environments such as forests and hot springs and is blessed with a quantity and diversity comparable to that of Germany’s Black Forest. Therefore, we believe that there is potential for further utilization of Japan’s natural capital for health promotion. The efforts of the German health resorts could direct and inspire us.
ABSTRACT
In the health resorts of Germany, the empirical effects of the unique natural capital and environment on humans are verified by scientific methods such as medicine, meteorology, and chemistry, and then approved as therapeutic drugs. Natural capital is provided in various forms for the maintenance of health, treatment of diseases, and recovery from fatigue and stress. Natural capital include hot springs, natural gases, and peloid (from the soil), as well as climate and oceans. The categorization of health resorts is defined by the type and quality of natural capital available. Due to their unique characteristics, a system that allows users to select the health resorts that suit their specific needs has been established, enabling them to utilize natural capital effectively for health promotion. Considering the current state of Japan, country with an abundance of natural capital that is considered underutilized, we visited Bad Homburg and six health resorts located in Germany’s Black Forest located in the southwestern part of the country to learn about the current state of their health resorts. All the health resorts we visited were excellent centers certified by the German Spas Association and German Tourism Association. Bad Wildbad and Keidel Mineral-Thermalbad, both thermal health resorts, maintain the provision structure for medical treatment and tourism. Against a background of growing interest in the environment, they utilize the land and natural capital to their advantage by incorporating the elements of trendiness, fun, and excitement to revitalize the local and the health resorts’ communities. Due to the differences in the structure, environment, and systems between the hot springs in Japan and those in Germany, it would not be easy to apply the current state of the German health resorts to similar resorts in Japan. However, Japan is rich in natural environments such as forests and hot springs and is blessed with a quantity and diversity comparable to that of Germany’s Black Forest. Therefore, we believe that there is potential for further utilization of Japan’s natural capital for health promotion. The efforts of the German health resorts could direct and inspire us.
ABSTRACT
RESUMEN Se presenta una propuesta metodológica para evaluar la sostenibilidad de los procesos de desarrollo regional, e identificar sus efectos sobre los recursos naturales, considerando el desarrollo sostenible como el mejoramiento de las condiciones humanas mediante el mantenimiento del sistema socioecológico. Se desarrolla el concepto "capital territorial" como marco referencial para evaluar la sostenibilidad temporal y transversal del desarrollo; incorporando el principio de no sustituibilidad entre capitales; e identificando las condiciones de sostenibilidad que deberían satisfacer los procesos de desarrollo. El artículo aborda tres aspectos. Primero, a partir de la conceptualización del desarrollo sostenible se propone el capital territorial como metodología de análisis, segundo, se construye una metodología de valoración cuantitativa para la sostenibilidad parcial y total de los capitales; y tercero se evalúa la sostenibilidad del capital natural de Colombia, utilizando la variable porcentaje de área departamental con cobertura natural vegetal. Se encontró que el uso del suelo actual y la cobertura natural vegetal del país presentan tendencia negativa (-0.06), evidenciando la insostenibilidad de los procesos y políticas de desarrollo sobre los bosques del país. Estos resultados señalan la urgente necesidad de armonizar el crecimiento económico con la conservación de bosques y ecosistemas naturales. Esta metodología puede ser aplicada a cualquier capital y proceso de desarrollo, constituyendo una herramienta de valoración práctica para evaluar la sostenibilidad de los recursos naturales y sociales de un territorio. CÓDIGOS JEL: Q01, Q56.
ABSTRACT The paper presents a methodological proposal to evaluate the sustainability of regional development processes, and identifies its effects on natural resources, defining the sustainable development as the improvement of human conditions through the maintenance of socio-ecological system. Thus, the concept of territorial capital is reinforced and used as a conceptual and methodological framework to assess the temporal and transversal sustainability of development, adding the principle of non-substitutability between capitals, and identifying the sustainability conditions that shall be accomplished by development processes. The article addresses three main aspects. First, from the conceptualization of sustainable development, the territorial capital is proposed as an analysis methodology second, a quantitative assessment methodology is built for partial and total capital sustainability; and third, the sustainability of Colombia's natural capital is assessed using the variable percentage of the departmental area with natural green cover It was found that the current land use and natural vegetation coverage at the country has a negative trend (-0.06), evidencing the unsustainability of economic development processes and policies on the country's forests areas. These results point to the urgent necessity to harmonize the economic growth with the conservation of forests resources and natural ecosystems. This methodology can be applied to any kind of capital or development process, becoming a practical tool to evaluate the sustainability of natural and social resources at territories.. JEL CLASSIFICATION: Q01, Q56.
RESUMO Uma proposta metodológica é apresentada para avaliar a sustentabilidade dos processos de desenvolvimento regional e identificar seus efeitos sobre os recursos naturais, considerando o desenvolvimento sustentável como a melhoria das condições humanas através da manutenção do sistema sócio-ecológico. O conceito de "capital territorial" é desenvolvido como um referencial para avaliar a sustentabilidade temporal e transversal do desenvolvimento; incorporando o princípio da não substituibilidade entre capitais; e identificar as condições de sustentabilidade que devem ser atendidas pelos processos de desenvolvimento. O artigo aborda três aspectos. Primeiro, com base na conceituação do desenvolvimento sustentável, propõe-se o capital territorial como metodologia de análise e, segundo, uma metodologia de avaliação quantitativa é construída para a sustentabilidade parcial e total do capital; e terceiro, a sustentabilidade do capital natural da Colômbia é avaliada, usando a porcentagem variável de área departamental com cobertura vegetal natural. Verificou-se que a cobertura atual do uso da terra e vegetação natural do país apresenta uma tendência negativa (-0,06), evidenciando a insustentabilidade dos processos e políticas de desenvolvimento das florestas do país. Esses resultados apontam para a necessidade urgente de harmonizar o crescimento econômico com a conservação de florestas e ecossistemas naturais. Esta metodologia pode ser aplicada a qualquer processo de capital e desenvolvimento, constituindo uma ferramenta de avaliação prática para avaliar a sustentabilidade dos recursos naturais e sociais de um território. CLASSIFICAÇÕES JEL: Q01, Q56.
ABSTRACT
Este artículo presenta la estructura de estrategias de vida de la organización campesina Fundación Consejo Veredal ubicada en la vereda Travesías, municipio de Calarcá, en ella se llevó a cabo un estudio con nueve familias beneficiarias del proceso de reforma agraria Ley 160 de 1994 que tuvo como objetivo la identificación de las estrategias de vida de los hogares y las restricciones que impiden el éxito de estas estrategias. El estudio se realizó mediante la caracterización de los sistemas de producción y la identificación de los medios de vida que despliegan las familias para su supervivencia. Se utilizó la metodología de Enfoque de Medios de Vida del DFID -Department for International Development- a través de la cual se valoraron los capitales: Humano, Social, Natural, Físico y Financiero por medio de la medición de 17 indicadores pertenecientes a cinco capitales. Los resultados del estudio permitieron la identificación de los medios de vida utilizados por esta comunidad para adaptarse a las nuevas dinámicas generadas por los efectos de la globalización en el sector rural en economías campesinas y particularmente por la crisis cafetera. Se logró la identificación de estrategias que implementan las familias con el fin de generar ingresos y mejores condiciones de vida, así como las interacciones que se establecen entre estas y fenómenos sociales como: la pobreza, el origen y distribución de los ingresos, las políticas para la diversificación, diversificación vs. agricultura, organización social, educación y acceso a mercados. Los resultados del estudio muestran que los capitales de mayor valoración fueron el Humano con una media de 4,16 y el Físico con una media de 4,04. Los capitales con menor valoración fueron el Social con una media de 3,09 y el Financiero con una media de 3,29. El Capital Natural se ubica en un rango medio con 3,56.
This article presents the structure of living strategies of the rural organization "Village Foundation Council" located in the Travesías village, municipality of Calarcá, where a study with nine families beneficiary of the process of the agrarian reformation Law 160 of 1994 took place which had as objective the identification of living strategies of the homes and the restrictions which inhibit the success of these strategies. The study was carried out through the characterization of the production systems and the identification of livelihood families display for their survival. The DFID -Department for International Development- Livehood Focus methodology was used to value the human, social, natural, physical and financial capitals by means of the measurement of 17 indicators belonging to five capitals. The results of the study allowed the identification of the ways of livelihood used by this community to adapt to the new dynamics generated by the effects of globalization in the rural sector in peasant economy and particularly because of the coffee growers crisis. It was possible to achieve the identification of strategies that the families implement in order to generate income and better living conditions as well as the interactions that exist between these and social phenomena such as poverty, origin and distribution of incomes, policies for diversification, diversification vs. agriculture, social organization, education and access to markets. The results of the study, shows that the capitals with higher evaluation were the social with a 4.16 average and Physical with a 4.04. average The capitals with lower evaluation were the Social with a 3.09 average and the financial with a 3.29 average. The natural capital is located in a middle range with 3.56.
Subject(s)
Humans , Social Capital , Adaptation to Disasters , Rural Economy , SurvivorshipABSTRACT
Las percepciones de los productores ganaderos respecto a su bienestar, la calidad del agua y la diversidad de herpetofauna fueron examinadas usando entrevistas semiestructuradas a los productores y a las instituciones locales. Las entrevistas se utilizaron para desarrollar indicadores enmarcados en los capitales de la comunidad y validados a través de cuatro talleres. Los resultados indicaron que los productores tienen percepciones similares respecto a las relaciones entre la calidad del agua y la biodiversidad. Los productores comentaron que la cantidad de agua ha ido disminuyendo, aunque la mayoría de los productores no perciben una relación entre la calidad del agua, la salud humana o la salud del ganado. Hubo una ausencia significativa de las instituciones locales, la promoción y la financiación de proyectos de conservación de la biodiversidad, el acceso y almacenamiento de agua. En cuanto a la herpetofauna, las respuestas de los productores se han centrado en las funciones medicinales, alimenticias y controladores biológicos que estos organismos proveen. La mayoría de los productores entrevistados afirmaron que la incorporación de sistemas silvopastoriles en fincas ofrece beneficios, incluida la mejora de la calidad del agua y la conservación de la biodiversidad agrícola. Los productores demostraron conocimientos locales en la ubicación de las fuentes de agua y el uso tradicional de la herpetofauna.
Perceptions of livestock producers regarding their welfare, water quality and herpetofauna diversity were examined using semi-structured interviews with farmers and local institutions. Interviews was used to develop indicators framed in community capitals and validated through four workshops. The results indicated that producers have similar perceptions of the relationships between water quality and biodiversity. Producers indicated that the amount of water has been declining, although most producers do not perceive a relationship between water quality, human health or livestock health. There was a significant absence of: local institutions, biodiversity conservation projects promotion and financing, access and water storage. Regarding the herpetofauna, the' responses of producers have focused on medicinal, nutritional functions and biological regulation that these organisms provide. Most farmers interviewed stated that the incorporation ogf agroforestry systems on offers benefits including improved water quality and conservation of agricultural biodiversity. Farmers demonstrated local knowledge in locating water sources and in the traditional use of herpetofauna.