An Innovative Sustainability-Oriented Eco-Development Approach in China: The Case Study of Chongming Island

The rapid development of Chinas economy has not only created enormous material wealth, but also brought about great challenges to natural resources and environment. Therefore, there is a pressing need of transition from traditional development pathways to a sustainable one for China. Taking Chongming Island as a case, an innovative sustainability-oriented eco-development approach is presented. Chongming Island has a unique setting as a rural county in the highly urbanized municipality, with a good eco-environment and least developed economy in the surroundings. Through exploring a path to ecological modernization beyond the traditional industrialization, Chongming practice is expected to show the way of how to integrate ecosystem management and eco-development in a developing area, which is a good demonstration for China and other developing countries and regions.