Though only a relatively recent topic of worldwide discussion and interest, the concept of sustainable development traces its origins to the late eighteenth century, when concern for resource conservation and environmental integrity first arose. From this beginning, the concern for sustainable development progressively expanded from being purely local to having a regional and national relevance, and finally to being a global concern of import. Preserving the Legacy examines this expansion, while discussing several general approaches to the understanding and application of the concept of sustainability. Also discussed are such weighty issues as the balancing of development aspirations with environmental management in developing countries, and the means by which residents in an urbanizing region in a developed country can be induced to consider sustainable development as both a goal and a limiting factor in the conversion of agricultural land. Offering both real-world examples of sustainability issues and a forecast for the future of sustainability theory and practice, this fascinating volume will prove invaluable to scholars of the environment, geography, and urban planning.