Sustainable Land Development Today - January 2008 - (Page 47) SLDI in Focus Sustainable Land Development International (SLDI) is a member-owned organization dedicated to promoting land development around the world that balances the needs of people, planet and profit – for today, and future generations. Sustainable Land Development Defined When the term “sustainable” is mentioned, people are often unsure of its context and/or skeptical of the motivation behind its use. Having been primarily used in an environmental context, Wikipedia defines sustainability as, “a characteristic of a process or state that can be maintained at a certain level indefinitely. The term, in its environmental usage, refers to the potential longevity of vital human ecological support systems, such as the planet's climatic system, systems of agriculture, industry, forestry, and fisheries, and human communities in general and the various systems on which they depend.” SLDI’s perspective encompasses more than just environmental sustainability. Here’s how SLDI defines sustainable land development: Sustainable Land Development – the art and science of planning, financing, regulating, designing, managing, constructing and marketing the conversion of land to other uses through team-oriented, multi-disciplinary approaches which balance the needs of people, planet and profit – for today, and future generations. Strategic Objectives A holistic strategic perspective enables the greatest results within each of the specialized areas of land development. As such, the following foundational objectives buoy all three legs of sustainable land development. Create a sustainable development industry-dominant brand; Implement sustainable development certification programs for individuals and projects; Integrate aesthetic values with scientific facts to maximize the achievement of sustainable land development. Profit Develop and promote interdisciplinary knowledge and technologies that unite technical expertise and understanding to improve the quality of solutions, resulting in increased net revenue and new business opportunities for members. • Reduce business costs and increase income, resulting in increased financial yield; • Obtain unique market access for Enhance creating enhanced value; Value • Broaden market opportunities. Maximize Yield • Leverage existing and emerging technologies that deliver ecological results; • Improve the ecological quality of land development products and services; People Promote social, environmental and financial best practices by facilitating stakeholder alliances. • Educate and inform all stakeholders about the importance of sustainability and the role of Sustainable Land Development International; • Promote the importance of social equity to overall community sustainability; • Expand stakeholder participation in sustainable land development. SLDT Deliver Knowledge & Relationships Profit Create Opportunity Planet Promote ecologically sound land development that protects Implemant and restores essential ecosysCertification tems. Create • Create holistic indusStrategic Holistic try best practices Objectives Best Practices that embrace sustainable development pracIntegrate tices; Art & Science Planet Improve Leverage Ecological Technology Quality Develop Industry Dominant Brand People Expand Stakeholder Participation Build Social Equity www.SLDTonline.com 47 http://www.SLDTonline.com
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