Sustainable rural and urban ecosystems: design, implementation and operation

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Human beings significantly impact the planetary ecosystem, particularly in areas like climate change and biodiversity. This manual serves practitioners involved in human-centered rural and urban ecosystems, guiding them through essential steps for design, implementation, and operation, while promoting practical sustainability. The holistic ecosystem approach integrates various disciplines, including architecture, environmental engineering, social sciences, and ecology. It addresses energy savings, ecological cycles, resource reuse, socio-cultural contexts, and quality management. The manual outlines the general concept, realization steps, and engaged stakeholders, providing practical hints and tools for users. Target groups include local planning authorities, designers, regulatory bodies, construction firms, and operating institutions, offering insights into procedures and requirements. The experiences shared stem from a collaborative German-Ghanaian initiative at Valley View University, Ghana's largest private university, aimed at establishing a holistic ecological university. This project was initially funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research and later supported by the Ministry for the Environment under the Climate Change Initiative of the Federal Government of Germany.