Sustainability: the outcome of process

Sustainability is the outcome of a process which is embedded in a community for engagement with its past heritage and long-term future. This requires empowerment of people in groups as neighbours or volunteers to make the place where they live a special entity through local action plans which are also described as 'betterment plans'. A betterment plan targets the creation of a culture of resilience to cope with future local impacts of changed economic circumstances and climate change. This process is conceptualised as follows.

In Wales the interface between community issues selected as being important for sustainability is mediated by an independent animateur with the role of transmitting plans to and from the community to potential funders. This is the basis of the cynefin scheme.