Sustainable Communities on a Sustainable Planet

This book provides an in-depth look at the Human-Environment Regional Observatory project, detailing its innovative methods for understanding local impacts of global change.

This book delves into the philosophy underpinning the Human-Environment Regional Observatory project (HERO), which aimed to create a robust infrastructure for monitoring and comprehending the local aspects of global change. It emphasizes HERO's unique approach to tackling complex, integrative, and interdisciplinary global change science at local levels. By recognizing that localities play a crucial role in addressing the causes and effects of global environmental change, the project sought to provide valuable insights and tools for scientists and policymakers alike.

The Sustainable Communities on a Sustainable Planet book outlines the methodologies employed by HERO to transform its philosophy into actionable strategies. It details the development of research protocols and data standards necessary for effective data collection. Additionally, it describes the creation of a web-based networking environment designed to facilitate collaboration among investigators, enabling them to share data, analyses, and ideas from various remote locations. The project also involved field-testing these concepts across diverse biophysical and socioeconomic contexts, including central Massachusetts, central Pennsylvania, southwestern Kansas, and the US-Mexico border region of Arizona.

Through its comprehensive examination of HERO's strategies and outcomes, the book highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing global change at local scales. The insights gleaned from this project are invaluable for global change scientists, offering lessons that can inform future initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable communities and a sustainable planet.