I traveled within the last several months to visit relatives in Northern Europe and to Engineers Without Borders (EWB) assignments deep into Central America. My mind is reeling with the dichotomy of cultures.

What in the world is the meaning of a “brownfield” in these cultures? Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway are among the highest standards of living in the world and have significant initiatives related to property reuse and development. Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico are among the lowest standards of living and yet have their own initiatives of property use and development. What are the common threads? The ecologic and redevelopment needs of each culture were recognized by each culture, outside of the use of a definition or term. Thus, the use of a term (i.e., “brownfields”) to portray a site development need is somewhat irrelevant. There is a basic understanding of how each culture relates to the earth, how they fit into the environment, and what environmental needs are appropriate to the respective society. The economics of redevelopment, whether small or large scale can define the initiative. Funding for redevelopment takes many forms. Some funding is mandated through government “greening” regulations; some is from government grants; some results from taxing mechanisms. ...

You need to register to view the rest of the article. Click here to subscribe.