Evolution of National Space Policy as Predominantly Implicit Policy: India, an Intrinsic Case Study

India,despite being a leading space-faring nation,and operating one of the six largest space programmes in the world,has developed little in terms of expressly documented national space policy over its 58-year history of space activity-besides two standalone policy documents primarily designed to address some operational policy issues pertaining to satellite communication services and use of remote sensing data.However,the Indian space programme,given its phenomenal technological advancements and operational maturity achieved over the decades,clearly exhibits evidence of having been continually and consistently guided,since its very inception,by a cohesive and consistent policy so far as its directional and strategic policy aspects are concerned.In other words,there does exist an apparent undeclared policy embedded in the Indian space establishment that has continued to inform and guide its strategic decisions and actions.The objective of the present case-study is to systematically describe the evolution of the national space policy of India,predominantly as implicit policy,as reflected by the key decisions and actions of the Indian national space establishment since beginning of the Indian space programme.This analysis strives to identify the directional and the strategic elements of policy as reflected by the decisions and actions of the space establishment,and the socio-economic,technological,political and institutional factors that have influenced such policies.

Ecotourism Development and Biodiversity Conservation in Sri Lanka: Objectives, Conflicts and Resolutions

Biodiversity conservation and sustainably utilizing natural resources improve the benefits of ecotourism development. Ecotourism development makes values for sustainably using biodiversity creating economic development opportunities. This study reviews literature and reveals objectives, conflicts and resolutions for achieving biodiversity conservation through ecotourism development in Sri Lanka. This paper describes conservation objectives in terms of preserving and fostering biodiversity, habitat restoration and managing biodiversity, and making values for natural assets through ecotourism activities. Degradation and destruction of habitat, overexploitation and illegal extraction of species, emissions of greenhouse gasses for climate change, contamination and pollution of the environment, and spread of exotic species are identified as the main conflicts. Conservation resolutions are discussed on education and awareness-raising activities for biodiversity conservation, in-situ conservation and ex-situ preservation of species, integrating biodiversity into ecotourism development, integrating management of biodiversity and ecotourism, linking ecotourism industry and conservation organizations, ecotourism policy and legislations for biodiversity conservation, and imposition of rules and regulations. Policy solutions and building capacity among institutions and other stakeholders for governance and sustainable conservation of biodiversity are key for sustainable ecotourism development.

The sustainability cycle of historic houses and cultural memory: Controversy between historic preservation and heritage conservation

Historic preservation and heritage conservation are two mainstream concepts related to the sustainability and renewal of historic houses.With the aim of enhancing the sustainability of historic houses,this article criticizes the view of historic preservation that insists on preserving historic houses with their old appearances,which does not fully develop their sustainability.In contrast,the article provides support for the view of heritage conservation that aims to promote the sustainability of historic houses and related legislation.In the second and third parts,this article examines the theoretical origin of historic preservation,which emphasizes and summarizes the one-way protection of cultural memory via historic houses.In the fourth part,the article turns to heritage conservation,highlights the sustainable cycle between historic houses and cultural memory,and underlines the advantages of this sustainable cycle.In the fifth part,this article presents a sustainable approach to heritage conservation and related legal safeguards by taking the renewal of historic houses in China’s Bagua Village(or"Eight Diagrams Village")as an example.In the last part,this paper summarizes the theoretical value,practical value and limitations of this article.The findings can facilitate the UN’s sustainable development of social inclusion,economic growth,and environmental protection to promote the heritage legislation and policy of present and future generations.