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For more detailed information contact DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP France B.P. 13, 82110 Lauzerte, France
Tel:
(33) 563 95 82 34
Fax:
(33) 563 95 82 42

Interdependence between human settlements and the environment

The way human settlements develop cannot be dissociated from the surrounding natural environment and its resources. Human settlement development both depends on and changes the natural environment. Over consumption of natural resources to meet shelter needs or actions which create pollution require changes to reduce these negative impacts on the environment. Depletion of natural resources or their pollution also mean that resources depended on in the past to meet human settlement needs may no longer be available.

In both instances, selective action may be needed to create a better balance between human settlement needs and natural resource management.

The interdependence between human settlements and the environment is significant in DW's work.

  • It is at the origin of many problems that we work on addressing.
  • It is a basic consideration that we take into account in the solutions we propose.

In this context, DW works to promote:

Sustainable use of local resources for shelter needs through training and demonstration.

Reduced environmental degradation caused by human settlements through the introduction of selective changes to existing practices that lead to a reduction in resource over-consumption or pollution.

25 years of study and application

DW has undertaken projects and programmes that work to balance the needs of human settlements development and the environment including:

  • The woodless construction programme in the countries of the Sahel promotes since 1980 building skills using earth vaults and domes that reduce dependence on the rapidly disappearing tree resources and make building decent shelter easier for the population;
  • Studies for WWF in Tanzania examine how building needs on the Mafia islands can be met while reducing harm to the marine environment on which they traditionally depended;
  • Research and practical demonstration of how local resources can be used durably to meet shelter and infrastructure needs in Northern Pakistan, Laos, Iran;
  • Promotion of natural resource use in disaster mitigation strategies and post disaster rehabilitation in Guinea, Iran, Vietnam and Afghanistan
  • Publications on indigenous building methods, and on building with earth, thatch, bamboo and earth vaults and domes.
 

The World Habitat Award 1998 has been presented by the Building and Social Housing Foundation (B+SHF) to Development Workshop for its role in the
'Promotion of Woodless Construction in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger'.

THE 1998 WORLD HABITAT AWARD - INFORMATION HERE

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