Sustainability In Emerging Economies - Essay Example

Sustainability in Emerging Economies Sustainability in Emerging Economies Sustainability is the measures and policies initiated by firms and countries to manage the resources in such a way that will not hamper future generations’ ability to derive the same resources. It is a concept that has been adopted by the emerging economies (BRICS). Businesses in the emerging economies have taken advantage of the cost savings and market opportunities that green technologies present. Emerging economies is a term used to describe developing nations (not developed and are not third world).

These countries experience rapid economic growth, and they exhibit an increasing level of integration into global markets. Most have reduced poverty levels to greater lengths, but at a cost to the environment. They have contributed to global warming by engaging in unsustainable efforts which is a threat to global environmental sustainability (Hansen and Wethal 2014: p 3).Principles for tree planting project sustainabilityIn this case study, the researcher focused on a firm, Bunge Limited, to show how they adopted the zero deforestation policies in a bid to ensure food security for a growing population in a sustainable manner.

Bunge Limited is one of the largest agribusiness firms in the world. The company is one of the largest suppliers of global commodities. However, in its efforts to feed the world the firm severely impacts the environment through deforestation on agricultural development (McIntyre). The concerns about the effects on the environment prompted the firm to adopt a raft of measures that were sustainable to the firm and the environment (LOUCHE and HEBB 2014: p48).The selected state is Kenya found in Africa.

Bunge Limited will partner with the Kenya Forestry Services (KFS). Bunge will source seedlings from the KFS and plant in the tropical zones of the Mount Kenya forest. The area receives adequate rainfall that is appropriate for various species such as the Cupressus lusitanica and Grevillea robusta. The area is inhabited by the Ameru to the south and some western parts of the mountain, the Agikuyu to the east and north (Johannson and Project, 1995). The project is estimated to take three months.

However, sustaining a project in an emerging economy faces challenges due to social-economic and even political differences. In this case, the six principle of project sustainability will be used to ensure the project is beneficial to the members of the society and it lasts. The first principle is to maintain and to enhance the quality of life of the resident. Bunge Limited is concerned with tree planting, and the benefits accrued with trees are immeasurable. The community will have a clean environment that is essential for quality life.

Job opportunities will be available since the project will incorporate non-governmental organizations that will finance tree planting.The second principle is enhancing local economic vitality. A viable economy determines the sustainability of a project. Bunge Limited has identified tree planting project has a means to impact the lives of those in developing nations like Kenya. Tree planting will be on a continuous basis since the members of the society will be exploiting the trees for income.

The source of income will be viable and sustainable because trees will be continuously planted.The third principle is to promote social and intergenerational equity. A project that is designed to enhance the quality of life should be sustainable. For it to be sustainable, it should consider the needs of the different generations in the society. The youth and the elderly but able people in this country will be engaged to provide them a means to earn a livelihood. Therefore, the benefits should not be enjoyed by one segment only, a clear guideline needs to be developed on what activities the old will perform and what will the youth conduct.

It will ensure equity in the tree planting project, and all members of the society will benefit from the project.The fourth principle is maintaining or enhancing the quality of the environment. The environment is only one, and if we fail to take care of it, we shall live to regret. Bunge Limited understands the value attached to the environment that is why its project is concerned more with enhancing the quality of the environment. Tree planting creates conducive micro-climate in a given region, thus allowing investment in other agricultural activities.

Once the members of the society realize the benefit, created by the project on the environment enhancement, they will ensure the project becomes sustainable for their future benefits.The fifth principle is the development of disaster management policies. Future is uncertain, and one has to prepare for any misfortune happenings. Bunge Limited understands the impact of global warming, which has resulted in unpredictable weather patterns. Since tree planting requires water to ensure survivability of the tree seedlings, mitigation measures have to be in place to provide water in case it does not rain.

Through the help of other NGOs, water tanks will be placed in strategic locations to harvest water that will be used to when the rains disappear. The sixth principle is the use of participatory process when decisions regarding the project are made. The society is made up of different people with divergent opinions. Their opinions are correct as per them, and it will be unjust to rule out their opinions without considerations. For the tree planting project to be sustainable, and then a participatory approach is critical in a decision-making process.

Wrangles among the community members should be shunned since this will affect the sustainability of the project. In Kenya, the community is made of different ethnic group, and a possibility of divergent opinion may arise due to political affiliations. Each decision to be taken regardless of the magnitude all stakeholders should be incorporated.Tasks for the Tree Planting Project1. Explaining to the local community and other stakeholders in Kenya what the project is all about and the main objective of the tree planting program.2. Defining the roles and responsibility to be played by all stakeholders in the tree- planting program. 3. Holding kickoff meeting.

The meeting is aimed at ensuring the all stakeholders work as a team in ensuring the overall goal is met. 4. Developing scope statement. Since the project will involve the contribution from various players, developing a scope statement is a confirmation of both sponsors (NGOs) and the stakeholders that the agreed outcomes will be realized.5. Developing scope baseline. The ultimate goal is to enhance the environment of the local community in Kenya and quality of life. Work breakdown structure is designed to identify which tasks will be conducted first.

For instances digging of holes and which parts of Kenya will the project initiated first. 6. Developing work schedule and cost baseline. The expected cost should accompany each task to be conducted in the tree planting program.7. Creating baseline management plans. The management plan will be a detective tool to spot any deviation from the objectives. Contingency measures are decided and implemented as per the management plan in case of deviations in tree planting activities.8. Developing a staffing plan.

The plan will indicate the flow of tree seedlings and other resources into the respective communities. The period will be in terms of months. 9. Analyzing project quality and risks. Tree planting project needs to meet certain quality for goal accomplishment verification. Risks still need to be identified, and corrective measures suggested of averting any looming threat. The quality to be considered is the features of the tree, trees that drain much water from the surrounding may become of less quality to the society. 10. Launching of the project.

The management identified to spearhead the tree planting project will ensure the project becomes sustainable after the implementation. Reflective AnalysisBunge Limited tasked itself improving the lives of the residents through sustainable measures. Through this project, the residents have derived not only a means of livelihood and income and also bridged the gap of social and intergenerational equity. Bunge Limited had developed sustainable ways to conserve the environment through quality improvement and planning for disaster management.

The firm has demonstrated the need to derive resources in a sustainable manner that ensures that it does not threaten the future generation’s ability to derive similar resources.Reference ListBlack, B., & Weisel, G. (2010). Global warming. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Greenwood.Hansen A., & Wethal, U., (2014). Emerging Economies and Challenges to Sustainability: Theories, Strategies, Local Realities. Routledge Jenkins, W. (2010). Principle of Project sustainability. Great Barrington, Mass.: Berkshire.

Johannson, S., & Project, K. (1995). Forestry in irrigated agricultural schemes: With special reference to the Bura Irrigation and Settlement Project, Kenya. Helsinki: University of Helsinki, Dept. of Forest Ecology.LOUCHE, C., & HEBB, T. (2014). Socially responsible investment in the 21st century does it make a difference for society? Bingley, U.K., Emerald. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/books.htm?issn=2043-9059&volume=7.McIntyre, M. n.d. Deforestation and climate change: Reducing carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 276-278.Project Planning Software: Complete Your Project on Time and On Budget.n.d. Retrieved May 4, 2015, from http://www.mytimemanagement.com/project-planning-software.htmlRaven, C. (2006). Forestry. Philadelphia: Chelsea House.Scally, W. n.d.Sustainability in Project Management. Project Management Journal, 101-101.Spilsbury, R. (2010). Deforestation crisis. New York: Rosen Central.Stand For Trees. n.d. Retrieved May 4, 2015.