Partnering to create sustainable communities. (National Society for Park Resources).

Creating sustainable environments isn't something you do in a closet, or a department, or even an agency. Developing community sustainable practices must be a community goal, developed by various agencies, interest groups and organizations. Sustainable development encompasses environment, economics and society. Therefore, people need basic knowledge from the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities to understand the principles of sustainable development, how they can be implemented, the values involved and the ramifications of their implementation.

The history of natural resource conservation management has shown the efficacy of education programs. For example, when dams were built in the Tennessee Valley, farming practices were such that erosion and the accompanying deposition of sediment in waterways would eventually fill the reservoirs behind the dams and limit their lifetime and usefulness. Extensive agriculture education through the extension service and reforestation efforts significantly reduced erosion and extended the life of the dams.

The Education for Sustainable Development Toolkit will help you develop a process for creating locally relevant and culturally appropriate education to support sustainable practices. The resource is based on the idea that communities and educational systems need to dovetail their sustainability efforts. Ideally, local educational systems can reorient existing curriculums to reinforce local sustainability goals.

For more information, go to www.esdtoolkit.org.