Using ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ social impact indicators to understand societal change caused by mining: a Western Australia case study

The paper explores the qualitative changes occurring in the local social landscape as a result of mining. Building on Colantonio's social sustainability assessment framework, we argue that there are three thematic areas (related to demographics, social capital and well-being) which identify change generally and specifically caused by mining. By studying the social impacts of mining, we examine both ‘hard’ themes around quantifiable indicators and ‘soft’ themes which deal with less tangible community characteristics and values. The analysis of the Western Australian Boddington case study demonstrates that such an approach can generate important insights about a community's nature and potential capabilities to cope and respond to change. We argue that if social impact assessment is to be used as a development tool, which is a tool that facilitates development, there is need to understand those aspects of the social environment that impact positively and/or negatively its demographic, quality and operational attributes as they influence the overall capacity of communities to maintain and enhance their long-term functioning.     

拆迁安置居民社区归属感研究——以临安市锦城街道文昌阁社区为例

目的探讨城市拆迁安置对居民社区归属感的影响。方法采用问卷对临安市锦城街道文昌阁社区388名拆迁安置居民进行调查。结果拆迁居民社区归属感水平与老社区居民相当,保持在较高水平,但在社区喜爱、社区依恋方面显著高于老社区居民,而在社区认同、社区关心方面显著低于老社区居民;拆迁居民社区归属感主要受到组织满意度、未来生活预期、社区满意度、社区参与年龄五个因素的影响。结论拆迁安置对居民归属感并不完全是负面的,也有积极面,可以通过提升居民满意度、生活预期和社会参与达到归属感重建。     

Buy-in and social capital: by-products of social impact assessment

Participatory impact assessment is a term frequently used and often abused. It refers to an approach that includes interested and affected parties in deciding indicators and measures of environmental and social impacts, in evaluation of effects and monitoring. Involving communities in a participatory manner facilitates skill transfer, fosters buy-in and creates local social capital. This paper describes a participatory exercise initiated by a local authority (Council) in New Zealand. Based on the reported assessment and that of two others, five essential ingredients are identified for a genuine participatory exercise. Time and flexibility are key components.     

Social impact assessment of investment activities in the China–Pakistan economic corridor

In order to analyze potential social risks, and achieve smooth implementation of investment activities in the China–Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC), we attempt to establish social impact and risk indicators. Both the impacts on the projects and the impacts of the projects are used to develop risk indicators in accordance with the literature review, reality and international standard principles. Using an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and average value to analyze questionnaires of both Chinese and Pakistani respondents, we identify the importance of various risk indicators. The primary social risks of the western high mountain region include tribal obstacles and religious extremism. The social risks to the southeast coastal plains include preserving the historical and cultural heritage of the area and international protection of national parks. The social risks in north Kashmir include disputes, extremist threats, religious and cultural differences, and the protection of natural reserves. The social risks of the Xinjiang region primarily involve social issues faced by ethnic minorities and environmental pressures.     

Assessing the assessments: improving methodologies for impact assessment in transboundary watercourses

Transboundary impact assessment (TIA) has become an important environmental management tool, particularly where a project may have transboundary impacts. With the growing practice of TIA, it becomes important to consider the accuracy of the transboundary impact assessments that are being conducted. If TIA is a planning tool designed to provide a basis for making an informed decision, does it actually provide the necessary information? This paper summarizes lessons learned in pilot-testing a methodology to assess the accuracy of TIAs.     

Learning from the social impacts associated with initiating a windfarm near the former island of Urk,The Netherlands

The social impacts of the planned windfarm ‘Windpark Noordoostpolder’ on the village of Urk are considered. Generating 190 megawatts (MW) when operational, the windfarm will be the largest in the Netherlands. Urk residents will experience a variety of negative impacts including a reduction in the aesthetic quality of their landscape, and their community identification and place attachment will be affected. The windfarm will also reduce leisure and recreation opportunities. While construction of the windfarm will arguably increase options for economic prosperity and employment, these benefits will flow to temporary construction workers who will likely come from elsewhere, and who will themselves be a cause of negative social impact and potential harm to the Urk community given its particular social characteristics as a fishing village and conservative religious community. Now part of the mainland, Urk is a former island and retains a strong independent identity and a sense of islandness. The windfarm project has generated strong feelings and has mobilized community action against the project. With their appeal rejected, the Urk community feels betrayed and considers that their concerns have not been taken seriously.     

居住性历史文化街区声景对地方感的影响研究

居民的地方情感是居住性历史文化街区的重要组成部分,而声景在构建居民与居住地的情感关系方面具有显著优势。文章选取太原市矿机宿舍历史文化街区和南华门历史文化街区作为研究对象,以居民的地方情感与声景感知为中心,将地方感划分为地方依恋和地方认同两个维度进行研究。通过实地测量、问卷调查及统计分析探究声景对居民地方感的影响。研究结果显示：在声景要素方面,传统商业声的偏好度和娱乐活动声的感知频率与地方感及地方依恋呈显著正向关系,而休闲活动声的偏好度与地方认同呈显著正向关系。历史文化街区评价方面,居民对街区历史的了解程度及文化保留程度评价与地方感、地方依恋及地方认同均呈显著正向关系。研究结果为历史文化街区的声景设计提供理论参考,可以为以声景赋能的历史文化街区的保护与更新提供指导。