Revitalizing Rural Communities

This book highlights the challenges and opportunities of (re)constructing a sustainable rural community on the outskirts of the urban community. Based on knowledge and experience accumulated through implementing a rural revitalisation project in Hong Kong since 2013, the book provides an in-depth analysis of a case study along with related concepts from the literature. In particular, the concept of rural resilience is broken down and used to examine how communities at the urban-rural interface can leverage their position and connections to (re)create vibrant sustainable communities. The revitalisation project was showcased in the databases of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Equator Initiative and the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative (IPSI) as well as achieving Special Recognition for Sustainable Development in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2020. This book teases out the key issues in the process of revitalising a rural community in the peri-urban context and examines the complexities embedded in each issue and how they can be addressed in the quest for rural sustainability.

Vivian is a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Civil Society and Governance. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Geography) and a Master of Science (Environment, Science and Society) from the University College London and received her Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Hong Kong. Her research interests include environmental policy, collaborative governance, and sustainability, and her doctoral research focused on the role of policy entrepreneurs in cross-boundary environmental management in Southern China. Her recent research on cross-sector collaboration is centered on the building of sustainable rural communities.

Jessica is a Ph.D. candidate and research assistant at the Centre for Civil Society and Governance. She holds a LL.B. (Law) from Exeter University and a M.Sc. Econ (International Relations) from Cardiff University. Her Ph.D. is focused on transboundary water security issues in South and Southeast Asia. Her wider research interests include environmental policy, transboundary resources issues, environmental governance, and sustainability.