Oral Abstract Details

Author(s):
Mark I. Wilson (1), K. Irene Shim (1), Jung Min Choi (2), Eunseong Jeong (1)

Affiliation:
(1) Michigan State University, (2) Konkuk University, Seoul

Presentation Type:
Oral

Topic Area:
The relationship(s) between land-use policies and ecological processes/disturbances along urban-rural interfaces

Abstract Text:
Urbanization has long been a significant topic for scholars and practitioners both from developed and developing countries. Technical advancement and socioeconomic improvements have led geographical spaces to be dramatically urbanized. This transformation to urbanization produces better quality of life and amenities to urban dwellers. On the other hand, there is an increase in urban ills, such as polluted urban environments, crimes, segregation between the poor and the rich, decrease of vegetation, and disparities between urban and rural areas. These negative aspects have led scholars, policy makers, and practitioners to study how to reconcile or minimize these problems. However, peri-urban areas have been largely ignored by both planners and administrators due to unclear jurisdictional definition, even though studies claim that peri-urban areas are considered significant buffer zones between the urban core and the countryside. The paper explores ways to provide new roles for peri-urban zones as garden communities. Discussion proceeds from definitional issues for peri-urban communities, to strategies of building a peri-urban community into a garden community using Korea as a case study. Korea’s example provides a study of improving urban environments with more green spaces, and creating new spaces for urban residents who want to pursue a rural lifestyle. Garden communities also offer ways to decrease disparity between urban and rural areas, and suggest an alternative planning concept for sustainable peri-urban areas.