Abstract

This project presents an integrated approach to evaluating the challenges
facing urbanization in association with increasing population and decreasing
per capita availability of resources, through the identification of various
issues like: food security, density and intensification, alternative energy,
impact on rural land resources, ecosystem planning and coastal tourism
management.
The following questions are used to guide the project. Can existing
resources support increasing intensification and density? What is the
potential for food production within this intensification and density? How will
travel behaviour choices be affected? In the event of de-urbanization; Can
rural land use capacity support an influx of urban immigrants? How can
alternative technology in rural areas support energy supply? Can the bioregional
planning bridge conservation and sense of place in coastal areas?
How resilient is coastal tourism development?
The following chapters discuss in detail these research questions and
provide a brief outline of the proposed strategies and methods used to
answer these questions. Considering that our research is work-in-progress
and at various stages of development. It was therefore very difficult to draw
specific conclusions or recommend solutions. This integrated approach is
our first step towards developing both local and global understanding of
some of the real challenges facing Asia-Pacific region.