Handbook Of Research On Rural Sociology And Community Mobilization For Sustainable Growth

Rural areas are a key sector in every nation's economy due to a sizeable majority of the population living therein, as well as their impact on global agriculture and food security. Rural development transcends the availability of infrastructure, technology, and industrialization to also encompass the enviro-cultural and psycho-social needs of its inhabitants. The necessity for greater and deliberate efforts targeting all aspects of development of these rural areas is required to sustain growth. The Handbook of Research on Rural Sociology and Community Mobilization for Sustainable Growth is an essential reference source investigating how global trends, state policies, and grassroots movements affect contemporary rural areas in both developed and developing countries. Featuring research on topics such as gender and rural development, micro-financing, and water resource management, this book is ideally designed for government officials, policy makers, professionals, researchers, and students seeking coverage on the sustainable development of rural areas.

This book provides an overview of interdisciplinary approaches that have applied social science to research focused on issues around food, agriculture and natural resource management. The book demonstrates that those who work in rural sociology either as researchers or practitioners apply community development and participatory techniques to socio-environmental interaction. The book discusses how the evolving concept of interconnected social and ecological systems (SES) emerged, recognizing the inherent complexity, adaptive nature, and resilience of such systems. This book engages with contemporary theory, as well as new cutting-edge transdisciplinary research evidenced in case studies from three continents.

A rapidly growing population, industrialization, modernization, luxury life style, and overall urbanization are associated with the generation of enhanced wastes. The inadequate management of the ever-growing amount of waste has degraded the quality of the natural resources on a regional, state, and country basis, and consequently threatens public health as well as global environmental security. Therefore, there is an existent demand for the improvement of sustainable, efficient, and low-cost technologies to monitor and properly manage the huge quantities of waste and convert these wastes into energy sources. Innovative Waste Management Technologies for Sustainable Development is an essential reference source that discusses management of different types of wastes and provides relevant theoretical frameworks about new waste management technologies for the control of air, water, and soil pollution. This publication also explores the innovative concept of waste-to-energy and its application in safeguarding the environment. Featuring research on topics such as pollution management, vermicomposting, and crude dumping, this book is ideally designed for environmentalists, policymakers, professionals, researchers, scientists, industrialists, and environmental agencies.

This book brings together several systems-level approaches to the consideration of the interaction of livelihood choices, natural resource management and participatory action research on sustainable development. By focusing on these approaches to community change, the volume hopes to encourage readers to consider how they might adopt methods such as Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA), Community Capitals Framework (CCF) and Participatory Action Research (PAR) in their own research, practice and teaching. Thus, this volume will engage readers in reflection about the importance of systems-level approaches that address poverty from the perspective of the poor, natural resource management that maintains the resource for future generations, and the engagement of local people in designing and implementing, and thus owning, strategies that address equity as well as economic security and the environment. This book was originally published as a special issue of Community Development.

In today’s rapidly evolving world, it has never been more critical to consider key environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, and endangered species. Society faces an unknown future where the fate of the environment is continuously in flux based on current preservation initiatives that governments develop. In order to ensure the world is protected moving forward, further study on the importance of securing environments, ecosystems, and species is necessary to successfully implement change. The Research Anthology on Ecosystem Conservation and Preserving Biodiversity considers the best practices and strategies for protecting our current ecosystems as well as the potential ramifications of failing to implement policies. Society is at a crossroads where if we continue to ignore the danger and warning signs brought about by environmental issues, we will be unable to maintain a healthy environment. Covering essential topics such as extinction, climate change, and pollution, this major reference work is ideal for scientists, industry professionals, researchers, academicians, policymakers, scholars, practitioners, instructors, and students.

Throughout history, humanity has sought the betterment of its communities. In the 21st century, humanity has technology on its side in the process of improving its cities. Smart cities make their improvements by gathering real-world data in real time. Still, there are many complexities that many do not catch—they are invisible. It is important to understand how people make sense at the urban level and in extra-urban spaces of the combined complexities of invisibilities and visibilities in their environments, interactions, and infrastructures enabled through their own enhanced awareness together with aware technologies that are often embedded, pervasive, and ambient. This book probes the visible and invisible dimensions of emerging understandings of smart cities and regions in the context of more aware people interacting with each other and through more aware and pervasive technologies. Visibilities and Invisibilities in Smart Cities: Emerging Research and Opportunities contributes to the research literature for urban theoretical spaces, methodologies, and applications for smart and responsive cities; the evolving of urban theory and methods for 21st century cities and urbanities; and the formulation of a conceptual framework for associated methodologies and theoretical spaces. This work explores the relationships between variables using a case study approach combined with an explanatory correlational design. It is based on an urban research study conducted from mid-2015 to mid-2020 that spanned multiple countries across three continents. The book is split into four sections: introduction to the concepts of visible and invisible, frameworks for understanding the interplay of the two concepts, associated and evolving theory and methods, and extending current research as opportunities in smart city environments and regions. Covering topics including human geography, smart cities, and urban planning, this book is essential for urban planners, designers, city officials, community agencies, business managers and owners, academicians, researchers, and students, including those who work across multiple domains such as architecture, environmental design, human-computer interaction, human geography, information technology, sociology, and affective computing.

In today’s rapidly evolving society, there has been an increase in technologies and systems available to support the elderly throughout various aspects of life. We have come a long way in the quality of life we can offer our aging populations in recent years due to these technological innovations, medical advancements, and research initiatives. However, further study of these developments is crucial to ensure they are utilized to their utmost potential in securing a healthier elderly population. The Research Anthology on Supporting Healthy Aging in a Digital Society discusses the current challenges of aging in the modern world as well as recent developments in medicine and technology that can be used to improve the quality of life of elderly citizens. Covering a wide range of topics such as smart homes, remote healthcare, and aging in place, this reference work is ideal for healthcare professionals, gerontologists, therapists, government officials, policymakers, researchers, academicians, practitioners, scholars, instructors, and students.

Complications during and after pregnancy and birth result in hundreds of thousands of deaths each year and can lead to lifelong health problems. Even with these complications, however, early detection and prenatal care can further reduce risk to the mother and baby. However, inadequate medical services, shortage of medical resources, and lack of or misinformation can hinder a woman’s ability to successfully manage her pregnancy. This not only affects the health of the people immediately concerned and their families, but also has implications for global stability and the balance between population and resources. Evaluation and Management of High-Risk Pregnancies: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on safeguarding mothers and babies through the availability of medical knowledge, cost-effective interventions, and the availability of widespread obstetric services. While highlighting topics such as labor complications, maternal mortality, and reproductive health, this publication explores exposure to sexually transmitted diseases as well as the methods of physical and mental healthcare. This book is ideally designed for obstetricians, gynecologists, world health organizations, policymakers, hospitals, health professionals, reproduction researchers, and physicians.