|
Abstract:
|
"This paper provides a synopsis on social indicators as relevant to cumulative effects
assessment and land use planning. Although much has been done to better understand the social dimensions
of environmental assessment, empirical work has been lacking on social indicators that could be used either
as measurable inputs or outputs for cumulative effects assessment and land use planning in different kinds
of communities and regions. Cumulative effects models currently in practice often fail to address deeper
issues of community and regional well-being. Against this gap, social scientists are being asked to make
reliable generalizations about functional, measurable relationships between certain social indicators and
land use change or scenarios. To address this challenge, the Alberta Research Council held a two-day
workshop in 2005 with social scientists. The workshop resulted in a list of prioritized social indicators that
could be included in cumulative effects modeling/assessments and land use planning. The top five social
indicators included population growth rate, education attainment, self-assessed quality of life, equity, i.e.,
distribution of benefits, and locus of control. Although consensus on social indicators and social thresholds
for cumulative effects models was not reached, the insight gained from the workshop will help inform
future cumulative effects assessment and land use planning."
|