The purpose of this study is to develop landscape indicators which determine the characteristic of village landscape objectively. We propose the method to indicate the characteristic of village landscape using land use map based on 10m grid. The indicators are follows: l) land form classification, 2) ratio of agriculture and forest land, 3) mixed ratio of land use, 4) agricultural land classification. We examined the effect of the indicators in a rural area (Kamitsuma district). There are some landscape change patterns. The difference of the pattern is based on the geographic condition of the village.

The use biotic indicators for the assessment of the impact of organic pollution is a very common monitoring technique. The present paper presents detailed information about the different types of biological indicators (physiology and immunology bio-indicators, indicators species and biological pollution indices), which can be based on indicator species, on trophic strategies, on the structural heterogeneity, or those incorporating biomass. All these tools can help us to interpret the state of a community and the possible changes due to certain environmental pressure. The combined use of different environmental descriptors makes it possible to identify various parameters that are capable of determining the area of impact

The main goal of this paper is to prove the differentiation of financial and economic indicators as well as to characterise the influence of selected natural and economic factors on the economic results of agricultural entrepreneurial subjects in the Slovak Republic. Set of agricultural subjects consists from 138 ones in the maize production region. It was divided by size (light intervals from 100 to 4000 ha) and organisational and legal form of entrepreneurship (five forms). We have obtained the average values during 1995-1998 s. Based on this average values by coefficients we determinate the groups with over and under average values of individual indicators. Natural indicators have an important role in other part of paper. The agricultural enterprises are divided into groups according to natural, financial and economic indicators as well as average value. The results from each group are compared from the viewpoint of economic results per one unit of land (profit/loss per hectare of agricultural land) and indicators. The interaction of volume of economic results (in SKK per hectare of agricultural land) and selected natural and financial-economic indicators are solved by regression analysis in the selected set of enterprises. A level of economic results of the agricultural enterprises is determinated by several indicators. Based on the analysis in the selected set of enterprises it can be shown that the level of worker's wages and the area of agricultural land per 1 worker as well as the share of vegetables and cereals on arable land affected the level of profitability with regard to the natural and financial indicators. On the other hand the level of loss was affected by the share of permanent pasture and grassland on agricultural land, fodders on arable land, density of cattle per 100 ha of land and the value of property per 1 unit of land

As a consequence of the impact of sustainability on agricultural production systems, a standardized framework to monitor sustainable development would have great practical utility. The objective of this paper is to introduce fuzzy set theory and develop fuzzy mathematical models to assess sustainable development based on context-dependent economic, ecological, and societal sustainability indicators. Membership functions are at the core of fuzzy models, and define the degree to which indicators contribute to development. Although a decision-making process regarding sustainable development is subjective, fuzzy set theory links human expectations about development, expressed in linguistic propositions, to numerical data, expressed in measurements of sustainability indicators. In the future, practical implementation of such models will be based on elicitation of expert knowledge to construct a membership function. The fuzzy models developed in this paper provide a novel approach to support decisions regarding sustainable development.

A case study of the nopal-vegetable agroecosystem in metropolitan Mexico City was conducted to evaluate the crop's economic productivity and sustainability using economic, social, and environmental indicators. Economic indicators were based on a gross margin analysis, commercialization strategies, and provision of employment. Social indicators were education level, family size, origin of laborers, plot size providing a measure of equity, and social self-organization. Environmental indicators were soil nutrient content and fertilizer application, technological management, and crop and natural biodiversity. Information on relevant social, technological, and economic elements was obtained through structured interviews with 100 producers of the city's nopal-producing zone of Milpa Alta in the hills southeast of Mexico City. Analysis of soil samples from cropped fields at three different depths was conducted, along with a study of nopal-associated weed species used by the community. Net income per ha was equivalent to 4 minimum wages. Estimated scores of 89, 74, and 64 (on a scale of 0 to 100) were obtained for social, economic, and environmental sustainability indicators, respectfully, for this unique cropping system. Discussion focuses on trade-offs between indicators, the cost of achieving sustainability in the metropolitan zone of Mexico City, and appropriate policy responses.

There is increasing pressure on the forestry industry to adopt sustainable practices. This book reviews thinking about scientifically based indicators, and sustainable management of natural forests and plantations.

There is increasing pressure on the forestry industry to adopt sustainable practices. This book reviews thinking about scientifically based indicators, and sustainable management of natural forests and plantations.

This chapter summarizes CIFORs work on social criteria and indicators (C&I), developed within commercial establishments oriented toward timber harvesting. These C&I are then examined from the point of view of protected areas, based on Colfers experience managing an Indonesian wildlife reserve in 1992-93. The conclusion is that almost all of the social C&I are equally applicable to protected areas, with only slight changes in wording | C.J.P. Colfer et al., 'Toward social criteria and indicators for protected areas: one cut on adaptive co-management', CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA, 2001

The paper addresses the comparison of the situation in the Czech Republic with the situation in the EU countries. The comparison is mostly focused on rural regions and based on analysing the selected geographical, demographic and socio-economic indicators. The data used for this analysis are statistical documents, official documents and articles closely related to the investigated issue. The paper aims at the analysis, of the problems in the Czech rural areas from the point of view of the indicators, which are used for assessment of unfavourable conditions. In conclusions, the difficulties are evaluated as a starting point of possible rural development.

For an extensive sustainability control on the level of the forest enterprise, a catalogue of natural and economic indicators is suggested, in which the Helsinki criteria have been taken into account. It is critically discussed whether these indicators provide sufficient and relevant information, if they are complementary and how the reference numbers required can be obtained. The major importance which criteria of economic sustainability, especially the final property asset, have for the long-term secure existence of forest enterprises is pointed out with the help of a simulation study, which is based on a GIS-supported simulation model.