Summary of "Modeling for Population and Sustainable Development"

Summary of

Modeling for Population and Sustainable Development

By A. J. Gilbert and L. C. Braat

Summary written by T.A. O'Lonergan, Conflict Research Consortium

Citation: Modeling for Population and Sustainable Development, A. J. Gilbert and L. C. Braat (eds), (New York: Routledge, 1991), 253 pp.

Modelling for Population and Sustainable Development will be of interest to those who desire and understanding of modeling approaches to the planning of sustainable development in general and the Enhancement of population Carrying Capacity Options(ECCO) approach in particular. This work is a collection of essays by multiple authors grouped into four parts, each with an overarching topic. Following an introduction by Gilbert who presents the issues and perspectives of population and sustainable development, the first part addresses the ECCO approach. Three separate essays address the challenges of planning sustainable development.

The second part examines three case studies of pilot programs applying the ECCO approach. The first of these considers the integrated approach to long-term resource planning and national carrying capacity assessment in Thailand. The second study examines the potential for enhanced national welfare in Mauritius (an island in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Madagascar) with the use of the ECCO model. The final study examines modeling for population and sustainable development in Kenya.

The third part of the book proposes future applications of ECCO. Multiple authors propose such application for: population and sustainable development in China, the carrying capacity assessment project in Zimbabwe, and the integration of population, resources and environment. Finally, JD Owino proposes that the Kenyan exploration of the potential of carrying capacity assessment, population growth, and self-sufficiency would be a candidate for the application of the ECCO model.

The final part of the book examines other modeling approaches. The first three essays address sustainable development and: ecological modeling, economic modeling, and energy modeling. J Antoine addresses the past and possible future contributions of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and Agro-Ecological Zone (AEZ) methodology to the development of the ECCO model. The final approach considered in this section is the demographic approach. This is followed by Gilbert's evaluations, conclusions and recommendation. The text is appended with a list of the participants at the seminar/workshop on Modeling for the Population and Sustainable Development.

Modelling for Population and Sustainable Development is a comprehensive examination of the ECCO policy assessment instrument in the planning for sustainable development. Basic understanding of models in general will be useful to the informed reader of this work.