Resilient landscape architecture
Introduction
Sustainability refers to the balance between human activities and environmental resources, guaranteeing their long-term availability.[1] In ecology, it describes how biological systems can remain productive over time, promoting the exploitation of resources below their renewal limits. This concept has gained greater relevance in an industrialized world, where the need for sustainable infrastructure is growing rapidly due to challenges such as climate change and natural resource management.[1][2].
The term is closely related to sustainable development, popularized in the 1987 Brundtland Report, prepared by the United Nations (UN) under the direction of Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland. This report defines sustainable development as: “Meeting the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. This approach is based on three fundamental pillars: the economy, society and the environment, seeking economic and social development that respects natural ecosystems.[3].
From a socioecological perspective, sustainability implies a dynamic process in search of a common ideal, in which human activities do not compromise the balance of natural systems.[4][5] Operationally, it translates into promoting economic and social progress without degrading environmental quality, thus ensuring harmonious coexistence between present and future generations.[6].
Fundamentals of sustainability
Principles and concepts
The principle of sustainability is based on several key concepts. Among them, sustainability science and environmental science[7] form the pillars of its analytical and philosophical structure, while the data is obtained through sustainability measures. These data are essential to develop policy plans aimed at sustainable development.[8][9].
The concept of environmental sustainability was popularized in 1987 by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development. According to this, sustainability implies “meeting the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”[10] This approach requires a balance between economic and social development and the conservation of ecosystems, so that natural resources are managed efficiently for future generations.[11].