Metropolitan Housing Development in Urban Fringe Areas-A Case Study of Three Metropolitan Cities of South Africa: Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane

Purpose:The metropolitan cities of Johannesburg,Ekurhuleni and Tshwane play an important role in the economy of the Gauteng province in South Africa.The region constitutes to 22.4 percent of the total population of South Africa and has a strong presence and contributes in areas of manufacturing sector,financial and business services,retail and wholesale trade,etc.The rapid urban population,increase in the informal settlements and socio-economic opportunities has resulted in considerable urban sprawl in and around the urban fringe areas of these metropolitan cities.The urban fringe areas of these metros often come under the influence of rapid urbanization process and pressures.Coupled with the economical and potential land dynamics and lack of priority of spatial development guidelines,these areas attract rapid and haphazard development from communities and developers.Research Design/Methodology:This research is based on a qualitative approach through a comprehensive literature review that included content analysis of key documents on housing sector such as IDPs(Integrated Development Plans),Municipal Annual Reports,Growth Development Strategies,and among other sectoral documents on housing sector.Some of the key priority issues considered in the housing sector included:eradication of housing backlogs,spatial restructuring of housing,provision of choice in terms of location,tenure and housing typology.Findings:The current paper discusses the approaches of metropolitan housing development processes in three metropolitan cities of South Africa from Gauteng region,namely:Johannesburg,Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.The paper discusses the existing housing sectoral scenario along with the fringe areas in three cities with focus on:formal and informal settlements,housing segregation and the backlogs,current institutional arrangements,role of public private participation,and scope for alternate mechanisms.The paper concludes in discussion on sustainable development options for housing development in urban fringe areas.

Employment and development levels in rural areas of the Russian Federation

The development of agro-industrial complex is important for ensuring national food security and national health.The development of rural areas is subject to the development of agriculture and local infrastructure,as well as the availability of various services.This study selected 15 indicators in 2021 to analyze the employment and development levels in rural areas of 71 regions of the Russian Federation using the analytical grouping method.The results indicated that 20 regions(Group 1)had the highest percentage of rural population(33.10%).The percentage of population engaged in agriculture had the highest value(12.40%)in 31 regions(Group 2).Moreover,20 regions(Group 3)had the highest investments in fixed assets at the expense of municipal budget(11.80 USD/person).Increasing the investments in fixed assets carried out from the budget of the municipality can improve the employment level in rural areas.Then,we used cluster analysis to divide 14 regions of the Volga Federal District in the Russian Federation into 3 clusters.Cluster 1 covered Kirov Region and Republic of Mari El;Cluster 2 included Ulyanovsk Region,Saratov Region,Nizhny Novgorod Region,Perm Territory,Orenburg Region,Chuvash Region,and Republic of Mordovia;and Cluster 3 contained Republic of Tatarstan,Samara Region,Udmurtian Republic,Penza Region,and Republic of Bashkortostan.Results indicated that the 2 regions of Cluster 1 need to increase the availability of resources and natural gas and improve the investment attractiveness of rural areas.The 7 regions of Cluster 2 needed to develop infrastructure,public services,and agricultural production.We found the highest employment level in rural areas,the largest investments in fixed assets at the expense of municipal budget,the largest residential building area per 10,000 persons,and the largest individual residential building area in the 5 regions of Cluster 3.This study makes it possible to draw up a comprehensive regional development program and proves the need for the development of rural areas,which is especially important for the sustainable development of the Russian Federation.

Correlation Between Economic Development Level and Landscape Pattern in Beijing Peri-urban Areas

With the rapid changes of demographic and socio-economic structure, various ecological and environmental problems have emerged in peri-urban areas. Studies on the correlation between socio-economic development and eco-environmental preservation are inadequate. This paper analyzes the landscape pattern of peri-urban areas to address this issue. First, it studies the differentiation of economic development levels in Beijing peri-urban areas. Then, it explores the correlation between economic development level of each town and its landscape pattern using Pearson Correlation and grade difference indices. Furthermore, it summarizes the problems within current landscape pattern. Three conclusions are drawn from the analysis: (1) on the whole, the economic de- velopment level in Beijing peri-urban areas basically matches with landscape pattern; (2) landscape contagion degree decreases with the growth of economic development level in as much as 30% of Beijing peri-urban areas. This is an irrational phenomenon accord- ing to our judgment; (3) landscape fragmentation grades in more than half of the towns are higher than their economic development grades, suggesting that attention should be paid to excessive fragmentation of land use.

Rural-urban Migration,Rural Household Income and Sustainable Development in Rural Areas of China

The objective of this paper is to investigate the rela- tionships among rural-urban migration,rural household income and sustainable development in rural areas of China.The typical case study is done and 288 questionnaires are collected from five villages in Hebei and Guangxi provinces,China.The migration and remittance status,household income and sustainable devel- opment of rural areas are analyzed on the basis of questionnaires. Rural-urban migration is becoming a part of routine life in rural areas.And remittance is an important component in rural house- hold income.Rural-urban migration increases the arable land area per labor,which releases the tight human-land relationship in villages.In total,the migration increases the rural household in- come and accelerates the sustainable development of rural areas.

Countermeasures on Elevating Self-development Ability of Western Rural Areas on the Basis of Visual Threshold of Human Capital

The thesis underscores the significant role of human capital in elevating rural self-development ability.The investment of human capital is making great contribution to western rural economic growth,and it plays an irreplaceable role in promoting the socio-economic development prominently.The characteristics of human resources development in western rural areas for the moment are analyzed as follows:the employment structure is simple;the structure of human resources is irrational;the shortage of human resources aggregate is accompanied by the critical phenomenon of idling;the human resources drain badly;there is low input and low output of talents.The thesis also propounds the fundamental approaches in order to elevating self-development ability of western rural areas:we should practise and implement National Medium and Long-term Planning of Talents Development and lay down as soon as possible the detailed matching policies and measures based on the reality of western rural areas;we should develop the education in western rural areas vigorously,and formulate the developmental strategies of bridging "knowledge gap";we should establish sound rural human resources development system,and reinforce the degree of training returning-home migrant workers;we should adjust the structure of human investment timely as needed,and strengthen the degree of human capital investment conspicuously.

The comprehensive evaluation of sustainabledevelopment in karst regions-Taking Shishanareas in Guangxi of China as an example

This paper works out a practical evaluation method of sustainable development for theundeveloped the regions and take Shishan areas of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of Chinaas an example. First of all, according to the actual conditions of the karst regions in Guangxi and thetheory of regional sustainable development this paper estabishes an index system of comprehensiveevaluation, then takes twenty-eight representative cities and counties within the karst regions ofGuangxi as research objects to evaluate the level of sustainable development. It basically illustratesthe state of regional sustainable development of the karst regions in Guangxi.

Overall Planning of Development of Urban-Rural Areas:A Policy Mechanism for Urban-Rural Coordinated Growth

While analyzing overall planning and coordinated development of urban-rural areas, this paper shows that overall planning for the development of urban-rural areas is a requirement for the best use of productive forces. It means the setting up of a policy mechanism for coordinated growth. Recognizing this, the government should set up a way to lead and manage a unified program to increase service and decrease controlling administration power, while safeguarding and fulfilling the farmers' ownership to the means of production.

Study on Sustainable Development in Vulnerable Eco-areas

The vulnerable eco-area is one of the important research targets in the field of sustainable development. It is the requirement of building a well-off society in an all-round way that we should study more on the vulnerable eco-areas, deal with the relationship between environmental protection and economic development, speed up the economic development in these areas and increase the living standard of the local people. This paper puts forward the countermeasures of environment---economy coordination, on the basis of the recognition of eco-environment features and social economic conditions in the vulnerable eco-areas of China, in view of the progress in sustainable development studies of the vulnerable ones, taking the transitional areas of farming and pasturing in northeast China as an example to study the regional environment vulnerability.

Interactive Effect and Spatial Characteristics of Agricultural Development Level and Transport Superiority Degree in Main Grain-producing Areas of the Central Jilin Province,China

To investigate the spatial synergy between agricultural development level and transport superiority degree in grain-producing areas of the central Jilin Province and the driving mechanism between them,22 counties in the central Jilin Province were used as the research units to calculate agricultural development level and transport superiority degree using the entropy weighting method,weighted travel time and raster cost distance.The spatial econometric model was used to analyze the mechanism of the mutual influence between the two.The main conclusions are as follows.1)Agricultural development level around Changchun,the provincial capital city,and in the areas of Changchun-Jilin and Changchun-Gongzhuling is high,whereas the development level of the counties in the southwest is low.2)Transport superiority degree of each county has improved,the overall connectivity of the road networks has been optimized,and the level of transportation accessibility has shown the development trend of‘centralization’,exhibiting the characteristics of proximity diffusion.3)Locally,there is spatial heterogeneity in the mutual driving effects of the two,with six main patterns.4)The theoretical conditions of von Thunen’s agricultural location have changed under the conditions of market economy due to the improvement of the transport networks,the new model of agricultural development,and the changes of the market system.

Industrial Policy Analysis of Restricted Development Zones in Western China——A Study of State-level Main Producing Areas of Agricultural Products and Key Ecological Functional Areas

As one of the important policies of promoting the formation of main functional areas, the industrial policy directly determines the sustainable growth of space control ability of main functional areas. A restricted development zone is a type of main functional area which provides agricultural products and ecological products, assures the supply of national agricultural products and the stability of ecosystems, as well as safeguards the ecological functions and agricultural functions of wider regions by restricting its own development. Therefore scientific, complete and operable industrial policy support is needed. Restricted development zones are distributed widely in western China. With the restriction of their main functions, differential industrial policies should be implemented in the development of the restricted development zones: Dealing well with the relationship between industrial development and ecological protection, developing special industries which are friendly to resources and environment and appropriate for local conditions, guiding and encouraging industries to learn from regions with favorable development conditions, orderly withdrawing industries and enterprises adverse to main functions, facilitating industrial structure upgrading, optimizing industrial organization, improving industrial technological level and rationalizing industrial layout.

A Study on Eco-Tourism and Sustainable Development of Economic Underdevelopment Areas—An Example from Kanas Nature Reserve, Xingjiang Province, Northwest China

Based on the assessment of eco-tourism resource and its location advantage, the paper has discussed the principle, projects, and facilities of eco-tourism, in the Kanas Nature Reserve in Xinjiang as well as the direction of related industries. To solve the problems occurred at present in the Kanas Nature Reserve, strategic counter measures of sustainable development of eco-tourism have also been put forward, including: 1) The establishment of eco-tourism planning legislative system of eco-tourism;2) The establishment of environmental protection planning system of eco-tourism;3) The establishment of environmental audit system of eco-tourism;4) The establishment environmental legislation and law enforcement system of eco-tourism;5) The establishment ethic education and management system of eco-tourism.

Reflections on the High-quality Development of Rural Areas in Guangshan County,Xinyang City

The problems faced by the development of Guangshan County were analyzed from the aspects of rural management talents,industrial structure,e-commerce development,and farmers'ideology,and corresponding solutions were proposed to improve the development speed of rural areas in the county and promote the high-quality development of the county as a whole.

Study on the Development and Protection of the Historical Figures Resources in China＇s Guangxi Border Areas -- Mrs. WA Cultural Resource Is Taken for Example

Guangxi is in the southwest border of China, and Guilin landscape and ethnic customs as the two ＂trump cards＂ have been widely utilized in the communication between Guaaagxi and the outside world. In fact, Guangxi owns many cultural resources such as humanity history, characteristic diet, and local operas to be further promoted, among which historical figures resources are especially abundant. However, the development and protection of the historical figures resources are inconsistent with the current economic and social development, and feature obviously certain hysteresis. In this paper, by taking Mrs. WA who was a heroine of the Zhuang nationality to resist foreign invasions in the Ming Dynasty, the necessary development road of the historical figures resources is explored based on analyzing the current development and protection of the historical figures resources in China＇ s Guangxi border areas, and then innovative concepts and new ideas are proposed with great efforts.

Study on the Urban Tourism Development in Qin-Ba Area Based on SWOT Analysis——A case study of Dazhou City

The urban tourism of Dazhou City was analyzed by SWOT analysis method,and corresponding exploration strategies were put forward.

CONSULTATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN KARST AND ROCK-NAKED MOUNTAIN AREAS OF SOUTHWEST CHINA

The serious degradation of the ecological environment and the rapid expansion of stone desert have had a serious effect on the economic development of karst and rock-naked mountain areas in Southwest China. Moreover, these areas are still at the initial stage of industrialization, characterized by a greater significance of agriculture to the economy, face sharp contradictions among the population, the arable land and resources, and are suffering because of a shortage of investment. On the basis of this current situation, three recommendations are made in this article: "coordinating the relations among grain, ecology, population and economic development", "increasing the input of science and technology", and "adopting policies consistent with social equity in areas of poverty".

Study on Environmental Capacity and Sustainable Development Strategy of Scenic Areas ——Taking the Scenic Area of Slender West Lake in Yangzhou for an Example

Taking the scenic area of Slender West Lake in Yangzhou for an example, the quantitative evaluation model of environmental capacity and impact factors limiting sustainable development of scenic area were put forward, and targeted control measures were correspondingly proposed.

Study on the Sustainable Development of Tourism Industry in Gongga Mountainous Areas in Western Sichuan

There are abundant excellent tourism resources in Gongga mountainous areas (Mount Gongga, also known as Minya Konka, the highest mountain in Sichuan, China), yet the development thoughts and management modes in this region are far away from the advanced level in other mountainous areas in China or abroad due to the insufficient knowledge about ecotourism. Generally speaking, tourism development in Gongga mountainous areas are limited by various problems such as lack of overall development plan, system support, brand image, financial support and environmental protection consciousness. In view of the present situation of tourism development in this region, sustainable development measures are proposed on the basis of ecotourism and sustainable development theories, including making ecotourism development plan for Gongga mountainous areas, improving transportation conditions, tourism infrastructures and accommodation facilities, training service and management personnel with professional ecological knowledge; establishing ecotourism product system of Gongga mountainous areas; carrying out ecotourism management, innovating management system, setting up ecological monitoring system, implementing scientific functional division of tourism sites, constructing environment capacity control system and disasters management system of mountainous areas, improving medical and mountainous assistance system. Natural conditions and economic development of Gongga mountainous areas are similar to those in western China, it is expected to provide theoretical basis and practical experience for developing the vast mountainous areas in western China through studying the sustainable tourism development of Gongga mountainous areas.

Exploring well-being disparities between urban and rural areas:A case study in the Stavropol Territory,Russia

Rural areas are crucial for a country’s sustainable economy.New strategies are needed to develop rural areas to improve the well-being of rural population and generate new job opportunities.This is especially important in countries where agricultural production accounts for a significant share of the gross product,such as Russia.In this study,we identified the key indicators of satisfaction and differences between rural and urban citizens based on their social,economic,and environmental backgrounds,and determined whether there are well-being disparities between rural and urban areas in the Stavropol Territory,Russia.We collected primary data through a survey based on the European Social Survey framework to investigate the potential differences between rural and urban areas.By computing the regional well-being index using principal component analysis,we found that there was no statistically significant difference in well-being between rural and urban areas.Results of key indicators showed that rural residents felt psychologically more comfortable and safer,assessed their family relationships better,and adhered more to traditions and customs.However,urban residents showed better economic and social conditions(e.g.,infrastructures,medical care,education,and Internet access).The results of this study imply that we can better understand the local needs,advantages,and unique qualities,thereby gaining insight into the effectiveness of government programs.Policy-makers and local authorities can consider targeted interventions based on the findings of this study and strive to enhance the well-being of both urban and rural residents.