Challenge: implementing sustainability in the countryside

Csete, László

Keywords: sustainability, change of paradigm, production, consumption, suitability for living.

Man’s desire for continuity – or in other words, sustainability – goes back to biblical times. It is also well known that in agricultural and forestry activities using natural resources and in the everyday life of grass-roots farmers, the renewal of these resources is an integral part of farming. Continuity, looking ahead and lean management is also part of the everyday life of a family. Nevertheless, a few decades before a small group of experts worried about the future of mankind presented sustainable development to the world as a challenge to be resolved, because of the increasing rate of destruction of our natural surroundings, flora and fauna, and the excessive exploitation of natural resources. Globalisation, climate change and the recent financial and economic crisis only added to the topicality and importance of sustainability. Despite the fact that the issue of sustainability was included among the goals promoted by the UN, it has produced little more than wishes and platitudes on a regional level. This is due to the conflict between the short-term interests of the profit-oriented individual and the long-term interests of the society. It appears that this conflict could be better resolved at the local level – the level of towns and villages, businesses, families and households – than at the global or regional levels.
The key areas of local sustainability are (1) initiatives of sustainable activities: production, services, businesses; (2) transformation of the consumption of households, producers and public institutions to make it more sustainable; (3) steps intended to improve living conditions and well-being at the settlements, which requires, first of all, raising awareness, education, and winning the support of the local communities; as well as the adoption of local regulations; an finally, the prospect of sanctions. After obtaining information about the existing situation, the first steps should be taken in the areas which offer the promise of success.

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