Теоретичний базис дослідження екопоселень

Abstract

Актуальність статті зумовлена необхідністю формування сприятливого соціально-екологічного середовища для населення в умовах інтенсивної урбанізації та мегаполізації. Наголошено, що одним із шляхів реалізації такого проєкту є розвиток екологічних поселень. Надано стислий аналіз фундаментальних наукових теорій, концепцій, які формують теоретичну базу дослідження екопоселень.

Introduction. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to create a supportive socio-ecological environment for the population amid intensive urbanization and metropolitan expansion, which intensifies environmental pressure and contributes to the global ecological crisis driven by economic growth that fails to adequately consider environmental consequences. In this context, innovative projects aimed at preserving green space, strengthening socio-ecological responsibility, and involving communities in the careful use of natural resources become especially important, as human communities must be integrated into ecosystem processes and maintain them without disrupting natural cycles. The purpose of the article is to identify and systematize the theoretical foundations of ecovillage research as an innovative form of organizing living space, and to outline scholarly approaches to assessing the correspondence between ecovillage structures and natural ecosystems as well as the mechanisms of their integration into regional ecosystem contexts. Methods. The methodological framework combines the historical-dialectical method, analysis and synthesis, the comparative method, and a systems approach, providing a comprehensive view of the ecological, social, and institutional dimensions of ecovillage functioning. Results. A review of recent foreign and Ukrainian publications shows that current research concentrates on transformations of social practices and everyday-life models, institutional development and related environmental reforms, and the search for pathways of human–nature coevolution. It is emphasized that the social system that has developed worldwide is the cause of environmental problems, with varying levels, natures, and scales. It is noted that, unfortunately, a person is unable to adequately assess the negative consequences of his activities due to insufficient environmental awareness and the unpredictability of many natural processes. It is emphasized that the growing anthropogenic load leads to a constant reduction of natural resources at a rate that exceeds their ability to recover. In such a situation, researchers are developing ways to address the ecological crisis that have significant practical value. The author’s scientific-focused article on research by foreign and domestic scientists is dedicated to solving this problem. However, it should be mentioned that the analysis of professional sources did not reveal a significant number of systematic, fundamental works on eco-settlements. The article substantiates and briefly characterizes the main theories, concepts, and propositions forming the theoretical basis for ecovillage studies. It is shown that this basis relies on the integration of 1) ecosociology and environmental sociology, including ecological modernization theory; 2) the New Ecological Paradigm; 3) the concept of sustainable development; 4) approaches to the socio-economic environment; 5) studies of the history of ecovillage development in Ukraine and internationally; 6) research on nature-inspired (nature-like) technologies; 7) interdisciplinary approaches; 8) developments in the bioeconomy; and 9) research on bio-ecovillages as a high-technology, resource-efficient model of community living. Conclusions. Since the theoretical aspects of the correspondence of the structure of ecological settlements to natural ecosystems, in particular the principles of organizing the environment that ensures the inclusion of settlements in the ecosystem context of regions, are not yet sufficiently developed in the research space of Ukraine, we see the prospects for further research in the development of theoretical foundations for the study of eco-settlements, in determining the principles of organizing such settlements; in developing a methodology for scientific research into the functioning of eco settlements.